Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, disengaging the United States from the UN Human Rights Council and cutting off funding to the UN's Gaza relief agency, UNRWA. This action coincided with a scheduled meeting between Trump and then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the signing, Trump expressed his belief in the UN's potential while criticizing its current management. He emphasized the UN's role in conflict resolution and lamented its perceived ineffectiveness in this area. He stated his view that the organization needs to "get its act together."

The US has consistently accused the Human Rights Council of exhibiting bias against Israel and overlooking human rights abuses in other nations. The Biden administration had previously suspended funding to UNRWA following allegations of staff involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. Trump predicted a loss of credibility for the Human Rights Council if it continued on its current path.

Palestinians receiving flour from a UNRWA facility. (Abed Zagout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump had previously withdrawn the US from the Human Rights Council during his first term, but the US rejoined under former President Joe Biden. In 2023, US contributions constituted almost 30% of UNRWA's donor funding. While not a member, the US currently holds observer status within the council. The council consists of 47 member states, some with questionable human rights records, including Cuba, Russia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, China, and Qatar.

Fourteen European parliaments recently petitioned UN Secretary-General António Guterres to remove UNRWA's agency status after a freed Israeli hostage testified to being held in a UNRWA facility. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli citizen, recounted to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer her experience of being held in UNRWA facilities and denied medical care by Hamas after being shot. UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma confirmed to the BBC that the agency has requested independent investigations into allegations of Hamas utilizing its facilities.

Trump signing the executive order withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council. (Jim Watson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

An Israeli ban on UNRWA, implemented in late January, resulted in the departure of international staff. The agency warned this would hinder Gaza's recovery and political transition. UNRWA plays a crucial role in aid distribution to Palestinians affected by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, but the UN dismissed nine staff members following an internal investigation into their possible involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack.

UNRWA distributing aid in Gaza. (Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, applauded Trump's decision, criticizing the council for allegedly promoting anti-Semitism instead of human rights and accusing UNRWA of becoming a "terrorist authority" controlled by Hamas.

Conversely, Arab diplomats from key US allies are advocating for UNRWA. Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement emphasizing UNRWA's essential and irreplaceable role, rejecting any attempts to undermine or circumvent its operations.