U.S. President Donald Trump issued two consequential decisions by stopping U.S. participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council while maintaining the ongoing suspension of funding toward U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). The decision made public on February 4 emerged at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. and reflected the administration’s support for Israel’s historical criticism against the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee organization.
The United States discontinued its annual donations which amounted to $300-400 million to UNRWA after January 2024 because of Israeli claims that agency staff participated in the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. On behalf of Congress the suspension of funds to UNRWA was made official through legislation that extended to March 2025. UNRWA maintains its mission to serve millions of Palestinians throughout Gaza and its West Bank regions and neighboring countries because funding has been frozen and Israel maintains a formal ban that restricts its activities in these territories.
The decision by Trump continues the policies that he established during his first term through his withdrawal from the Human Rights Council because of its perceived ant-Israel stance while he simultaneously reduced UNRWA funding to pressure Palestinian leaders into negotiations. U.S. leadership returned to the council under President Joe Biden although the nation presently does not maintain membership status. 
Human rights supporters strongly criticize this step because they believe it weakens worldwide action against humanitarian crises. Despite its commitment to investigate staff accusations at UNRWA Israel allegedly failed to provide enough evidence to support the claims. The United Nation maintains this stance. The ongoing impact together with the decisions on Palestinian refugee status and U.S. diplomatic ties continue to be important international priorities.
