Israel withdraws from UN Human Rights Council, following US lead

JERUSALEM

Israel announced Wednesday that it is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) following a decision by the US to no longer participate in the body.

“Israel welcomes President (Donald) Trump’s decision not to participate in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on X.

“Israel joins the United States and will not participate in the UNHRC,” he added.

Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to withdraw the US from the council.

The order also prohibits the US from providing any additional funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Former US President Joe Biden stopped funding the agency in January 2024 after Israel accused 12 of its employees of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war. The halt to funding had been scheduled to remain in effect until March 2025.

Before the withdrawal of Israel and the US, the Geneva-based Human Rights Council consisted of 47 member states, with seats distributed among five regional groups.