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United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would withdraw the United States from the United Nations, UN, human rights council.
The order would also withdraw the US from the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA.
While signing the order on Tuesday, Trump also instructed a review of American involvement in UNESCO, adding that the UN needs to be fair to countries that deserved fairness.
“I always felt the UN has always had tremendous potential but it’s not living up to it’s potential,” Trump said.
DAILY POST reports that the US was UNRWA’s biggest donor, providing close to $500 million a year.
However, in January 2024, former President Joe Biden paused funding after Israel accused about a dozen UNRWA staff of taking part in the Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza.
US Congress formally suspended contributions to the agency until at least March 2025.
Trump’s order to withdraw the US from the UN agency coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Earlier, Trump said Palestinians have no alternative but to leave Gaza.
The president further said that he would like to see them take up a nice piece of land in neighbouring Jordan and Egypt, stressing that he does not necessarily support Israelis settling in Gaza.
“I just support cleaning it up and doing something with it,” he said referring to the embattled strip.
DAILY POST reports that this is not the first time Trump has dealt UNRWA a financial blow.
During his first term, he also cut off funding for the agency, saying Palestinians needed to agree to renew peace talks with Israel, and calling for unspecified reforms.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has signed orders withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization, WHO, and the Paris climate agreement.
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