WEB DESK: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Israel will no longer participate in the Council’s sessions, citing ongoing institutional bias against Israel since the Council’s inception in 2006.
This decision aligns with the U.S. withdrawal from the UNHRC, which was announced by President Donald Trump on February 5, 2025. The U.S. also ceased funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides assistance to Palestinian refugees.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, criticized Israel’s withdrawal, describing it as “extremely serious” and indicative of Israel’s disregard for accountability. She expressed concern that this action could lead to an intensification of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
These developments highlight the ongoing tensions between Israel, the United States, and the United Nations regarding the treatment of Israel within international human rights forums.
