UN highlights issue with Israel's recent action
The Jewish state has announced its intention to follow the lead of US President Donald Trump by withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
West Jerusalem's assertion that it has left the UN Human Rights Council is incorrect, according to a UNHRC spokesperson.
Israel is not currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council, meaning it cannot officially withdraw from an organization it does not belong to, stated UNHRC spokesman Pascal Sim.
On Wednesday, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of Washington’s withdrawal from the UNHRC, West Jerusalem declared its own exit from the council, which works to promote and protect human rights globally.
“Israel has an observer status in the UN Human Rights Council, as does any of the 193 UN member states that are not among the 47 members of the Council. An observer state in the Council cannot withdraw from a body it is not a member of,” Sim told TASS on Thursday.
The spokesman highlighted that Israel “regularly interacted with UNHRC for many years, participating and addressing several meetings” of the council. He added that the UN Human Rights Council “welcomes and encourages the participation of every UN member state – whether a member of the Council or an observer – in the work of the Council and its mechanisms.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the UNHRC in his statement on Wednesday, alleging that it “has traditionally protected human rights abusers by allowing them to hide from scrutiny, and instead obsessively demonizes the one democracy in the Middle East – Israel.” He further claimed that the council “propagates antisemitism” and discriminates against Israel, noting, “Israel has been subjected to over 100 condemnatory resolutions, over 20% of all resolutions ever passed in the Council – more than against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined.”
As a result of the decision, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, will cease attending the council’s sessions.
Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has been tense, particularly concerning the Gaza conflict. The UN has repeatedly criticized Israel’s military actions in the region, citing alleged violations of international law.
In November 2024, a UN Special Committee reported that Israel’s warfare techniques in Gaza showed signs of genocide, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Moreover, in October 2024, a UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during assaults on Gaza’s healthcare facilities as well as in its treatment of detainees and hostages.
These reports have further complicated Israel’s relations with UN bodies, leading to actions such as Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees within its territories. This ban has raised concerns about the potential worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as UNRWA provides vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
Israel is not currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council, meaning it cannot officially withdraw from an organization it does not belong to, stated UNHRC spokesman Pascal Sim.
On Wednesday, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of Washington’s withdrawal from the UNHRC, West Jerusalem declared its own exit from the council, which works to promote and protect human rights globally.
“Israel has an observer status in the UN Human Rights Council, as does any of the 193 UN member states that are not among the 47 members of the Council. An observer state in the Council cannot withdraw from a body it is not a member of,” Sim told TASS on Thursday.
The spokesman highlighted that Israel “regularly interacted with UNHRC for many years, participating and addressing several meetings” of the council. He added that the UN Human Rights Council “welcomes and encourages the participation of every UN member state – whether a member of the Council or an observer – in the work of the Council and its mechanisms.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the UNHRC in his statement on Wednesday, alleging that it “has traditionally protected human rights abusers by allowing them to hide from scrutiny, and instead obsessively demonizes the one democracy in the Middle East – Israel.” He further claimed that the council “propagates antisemitism” and discriminates against Israel, noting, “Israel has been subjected to over 100 condemnatory resolutions, over 20% of all resolutions ever passed in the Council – more than against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined.”
As a result of the decision, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, will cease attending the council’s sessions.
Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has been tense, particularly concerning the Gaza conflict. The UN has repeatedly criticized Israel’s military actions in the region, citing alleged violations of international law.
In November 2024, a UN Special Committee reported that Israel’s warfare techniques in Gaza showed signs of genocide, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Moreover, in October 2024, a UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during assaults on Gaza’s healthcare facilities as well as in its treatment of detainees and hostages.
These reports have further complicated Israel’s relations with UN bodies, leading to actions such as Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees within its territories. This ban has raised concerns about the potential worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as UNRWA provides vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
