Israel officially informed the UN of its withdrawal from the HRC

Israel has officially informed the UN about its withdrawal from the Human Rights Council (HRC). This was announced by the Jewish state's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on February 6.

"I have informed the UN HRC that Israel will no longer participate in it. The Human Rights Council has consistently allowed countries that violate human rights to avoid scrutiny while obsessively targeting Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East," he wrote on social network X (formerly Twitter).

To his post, Saar attached the letter itself, sent to UNHRC 2025 Chairman Jurg Lauber.

The Israeli foreign minister also emphasized that Tel Aviv shares Washington's position on reevaluating participation in the Council.

Saar announced Israel's withdrawal from the UNHRC the previous day, February 5.

Premiere List: White House assured Israel of continued military support

Will Netanyahu and Trump talks change U.S. strategy for resolving the Gaza conflict

On the same day, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order reevaluating Washington's participation in the UN and UNESCO. He said the organization was failing to do its job and also noted disproportionate funding. On January 20, the American leader signed an executive order on the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).

On February 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Trump and his administration could have become one of the responsible powers, but instead apparently intend to test the strength of the world system, which is built around the UN.

Israel notified the UN on January 25 that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) should cease operations in Jerusalem. On January 30, two laws went into effect banning UNRWA's activities in some "sovereign territory of Israel," Russian diplomats said.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected Israeli territory to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes. The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip began on January 19, 2025. The exchange of hostages continues.