Tue Feb 04 04:49:14 UTC 2025: ## Trump to Cut US Ties with UN Human Rights Council and UNRWA During Netanyahu Visit
**Washington D.C.** – President Trump is poised to further sever ties with the United Nations, planning to sign executive orders cutting US funding and engagement with both the UN Human Rights Council and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, according to White House officials. The move is expected to coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on Tuesday.
This marks a renewed escalation of Trump’s longstanding criticism of the UN bodies, particularly UNRWA, which he views as biased against Israel. The US withdrawal from the Human Rights Council echoes a similar action taken during his first term, citing alleged anti-Israel bias. The planned funding cut to UNRWA follows a recent suspension of US contributions after allegations—later unsubstantiated by a UN investigation—of staff involvement in the October 7th Hamas attack. While the UN fired nine employees found possibly involved, the US Congress suspended funding until at least March 2025.
UNRWA, established in 1949, provides crucial aid, health, and education services to millions of Palestinians in the region. The US has historically been its largest donor, contributing between $300 and $400 million annually. The agency’s role in Gaza’s fragile post-ceasefire recovery is considered vital.
Trump’s actions are likely to further strain US relations with the UN and fuel international debate on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The timing of the executive orders, alongside Netanyahu’s visit, suggests a coordinated effort to signal a strong stance against what the administration perceives as UN bias. While President Trump acknowledged “no guarantees” regarding the ongoing ceasefire during Netanyahu’s arrival, the implications of these actions on the fragile peace remain to be seen.
First Piper 