WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump is set to announce the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council and maintain the suspension of funding for the U.N. agency aiding Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, a White House official confirmed Monday.
The decision aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. Netanyahu has been a vocal critic of UNRWA, accusing it of fostering anti-Israel sentiments and alleging links between its employees and terrorist activities.
Neither the United Nations nor UNRWA immediately commented on the decision.
During his first presidency (2017-2021), Trump had similarly cut off U.S. funding to UNRWA, questioning its role and demanding reforms while urging Palestinians to return to peace negotiations with Israel. He also withdrew the U.S. from the Human Rights Council in 2018, citing its bias against Israel. The U.S. later rejoined under President Joe Biden, serving a term from 2022 to 2024.
The Human Rights Council is scheduled to review the U.S. human rights record in August. Although its findings are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight.
Since his return to office on Jan. 20, Trump has taken steps similar to his first term, including withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord.
An Israeli-imposed ban on UNRWA, which took effect on Jan. 30, prevents the agency from operating within Israeli territory or engaging with Israeli authorities. The agency has warned that its services in Gaza and the West Bank will be severely impacted.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini recently denounced what he called a “disinformation campaign” aimed at portraying the agency as a terrorist entity.
The accusations escalated after Israel claimed that several UNRWA staff members participated in the deadly Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
Following these allegations, the U.S. Congress suspended UNRWA funding until at least March 2025. The U.S. was previously the agency’s largest donor, contributing between $300 million and $400 million annually.
The United Nations confirmed that nine UNRWA employees may have been involved in the Oct. 7 attack and were subsequently dismissed. It has pledged to investigate all accusations and has repeatedly requested evidence from Israel, which it says has not been provided.
The funding suspension and operational restrictions are expected to further strain UNRWA, which provides essential aid, education, and healthcare services to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
