WASHINGTON – On Monday, it was announced that U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to stop the U.S. from working with the United Nations Human Rights Council and continue the suspension of funding to the UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), according to a White House official. This decision comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington. Netanyahu has been critical of UNRWA, accusing it of supporting anti-Israel activities and even claims that some of the agency’s staff have been involved in terrorist acts against Israel.
What’s Happening with UNRWA?
- UNRWA, which provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians, is already struggling financially, with reports of its situation being “very, very bad.”
- The U.S. was UNRWA’s biggest donor in the past, giving $300 million to $400 million a year, but this stopped after accusations surfaced that some UNRWA staff were involved in the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
- UNRWA has denied the accusations and said they are being targeted by a disinformation campaign to falsely portray the agency as a terrorist group.
What’s the Impact of Trump’s Actions?
- In his first term, Trump stopped U.S. funding for UNRWA, questioning whether Palestinians should make peace with Israel before receiving aid.
- Trump also withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council, calling it biased against Israel. He made it clear that he did not support any efforts that could pressure Israel or criticize it unfairly.
Israel’s Criticism of UNRWA
- Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, praised Trump’s expected actions, saying the Human Rights Council promotes extreme anti-Semitism.
- Danon also called UNRWA a “terrorist organization” controlled by Hamas instead of being an independent humanitarian agency.
What Does This Mean for Palestinians?
- UNRWA helps provide aid, health, and education services to millions of Palestinians living in Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
- With the U.S. suspending its contributions to UNRWA, many of these services might be in jeopardy.
Future of U.S. Involvement in UN
- Trump has also pulled the U.S. out of other global agreements, such as the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, during his time in office.
- Currently, the U.S. is not part of the UN Human Rights Council, but this decision could impact future U.S. involvement in international affairs.
- The Human Rights Council is scheduled to review the U.S. human rights record later this year. This review is a process that all countries go through every few years, though the council’s criticism is not legally binding. However, it still carries global political weight.
Next Steps
- Israel’s new ban on UNRWA operations began on January 30, stopping the agency from operating in Israeli territories and communicating with Israeli authorities. This has made operations in Gaza and West Bank more difficult.
This shift in U.S. policy signals growing tension over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the role international agencies play in addressing it.