Israel withdraws from UN human rights council, citing 'discrimination'
Israel has announced its intention to leave the UN Human Rights Council, asserting that the organization “obsessively demonizes” the nation. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Israel has announced its intention to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council shortly after the United States' departure. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has criticized the council for allegedly attacking a democratic nation and promoting anti-Semitism.
In a post on X, the Israeli diplomat condemned the UNHRC for what he described as an unequal focus on Israel while allowing human rights violations in other nations to go unchecked.
He highlighted that Israel is the only country with a permanent agenda item within the council, having faced over 100 condemning resolutions—more than 20% of all resolutions passed—outpacing those against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined. Saar remarked, “The council obsessively demonizes the one democracy in the Middle East—Israel,” and emphasized, “Israel will not accept this discrimination any longer!”
This announcement from Israel comes on the heels of the US exiting the UNHRC on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump had withdrawn from the council during his first term in 2018, also indicating plans to reassess America’s relationships with other UN agencies due to their stance on Israel and perceived anti-American bias.
His executive order specified, “Three UN organizations that deserve renewed scrutiny are the UNHRC; the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”
The order further mentioned, “UNRWA has reportedly has been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations,” referring to the alleged connections of some agency employees to the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel conducted by Hamas. These staff members were dismissed by the UN following an internal investigation last summer.
According to the executive order, the UNHRC has “protected human rights abusers,” while UNESCO has not “reformed itself” and has shown consistent “anti-Israel sentiment over the past decade.”
This move against the UN agencies followed Trump’s remarks about wanting to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, aiming to transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The US president made these statements during a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who became the first foreign leader to visit Trump in his new term.
Trump reiterated his view that Palestinians living in Gaza should be resettled elsewhere and that the entire enclave should be demolished, claiming the recent conflict rendered it irreparable.
His comments have drawn criticism from global leaders but received significant support in Israel.
UN estimates indicate that over 90% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, leading to the displacement of approximately 1.9 million people, a vast majority of the local population.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a post on X, the Israeli diplomat condemned the UNHRC for what he described as an unequal focus on Israel while allowing human rights violations in other nations to go unchecked.
He highlighted that Israel is the only country with a permanent agenda item within the council, having faced over 100 condemning resolutions—more than 20% of all resolutions passed—outpacing those against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined. Saar remarked, “The council obsessively demonizes the one democracy in the Middle East—Israel,” and emphasized, “Israel will not accept this discrimination any longer!”
This announcement from Israel comes on the heels of the US exiting the UNHRC on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump had withdrawn from the council during his first term in 2018, also indicating plans to reassess America’s relationships with other UN agencies due to their stance on Israel and perceived anti-American bias.
His executive order specified, “Three UN organizations that deserve renewed scrutiny are the UNHRC; the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”
The order further mentioned, “UNRWA has reportedly has been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations,” referring to the alleged connections of some agency employees to the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel conducted by Hamas. These staff members were dismissed by the UN following an internal investigation last summer.
According to the executive order, the UNHRC has “protected human rights abusers,” while UNESCO has not “reformed itself” and has shown consistent “anti-Israel sentiment over the past decade.”
This move against the UN agencies followed Trump’s remarks about wanting to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, aiming to transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The US president made these statements during a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who became the first foreign leader to visit Trump in his new term.
Trump reiterated his view that Palestinians living in Gaza should be resettled elsewhere and that the entire enclave should be demolished, claiming the recent conflict rendered it irreparable.
His comments have drawn criticism from global leaders but received significant support in Israel.
UN estimates indicate that over 90% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, leading to the displacement of approximately 1.9 million people, a vast majority of the local population.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
