Israel’s foreign ministry said it is cutting contact with three international organisations, including two UN-linked bodies, after the United States ordered its own withdrawal from dozens of international organisations. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also instructed the ministry to review Israel’s continued cooperation with other organisations, with additional decisions to follow after further examination and discussion.
The foreign ministry announced the move in a statement posted on X, saying Israel would “immediately sever all contact” with the named bodies. Several outlets described the decision as tied to what Israel called persistent bias, politicisation, or hostile actions toward Israel.
Which organisations Israel named
Israel said it will sever all contact with UN Energy, the UN Alliance of Civilisations, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development. Euronews reported that the Global Forum on Migration and Development is not part of the UN system, while also listing it among the bodies Israel named.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the UN Alliance of Civilisations had not invited Israel to participate and had been used “for years” as a platform for attacks against Israel. The ministry described UN Energy as “wasteful,” and said the Global Forum on Migration and Development “erodes the ability of sovereign nations to enforce their own immigration laws.”
Link to the US withdrawal announcement
Euronews reported that President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on 8 January ordering the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations because they “no longer serve American interests,” according to the White House. Euronews said the US order covered 31 UN organisations and 35 other entities, and included the three bodies Israel later said it would cut contact with.
NDTV reported that Israel’s decision followed an examination and discussions held after the US move, and that Israel reviewed organisations named in the US announcement alongside Israel’s own experience with them. The Jerusalem Post also tied Israel’s announcement to the US withdrawal from “dozens of international organizations,” saying the US move prompted Foreign Minister Sa’ar to evaluate Israel’s ties.
Four UN bodies Israel said it had already left
Israel’s foreign ministry also pointed to four UN bodies where it said ties had already been cut or disengagement had already happened. Those bodies were the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, UN Women (UNWOMEN), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
NDTV said Israel cut ties with the Children in Armed Conflict office in June 2024 after it “shamelessly blacklisted the IDF” in 2024, and reported Israeli officials objected to the listing. NDTV and the Jerusalem Post reported Israel accused UN Women of ignoring cases of sexual violence against Israeli women connected to 7 October 2023, and said Israel ended cooperation in July 2024.
The same reports said Israel had been disengaged from UNCTAD for years, accusing it of producing “dozens” of anti-Israel reports, and said Israel had long been disengaged from ESCWA, also accusing it of issuing anti-Israel reports.
Review of other cooperation
Alongside the immediate cuts, Israel’s foreign ministry said Sa’ar instructed officials to examine continued cooperation with additional organisations, in consultation with relevant government ministries when necessary. NDTV reported the ministry said further decisions would be made after a thorough review and additional discussion. Euronews similarly reported the ministry said it would review continued cooperation with an unspecified number of other organisations.
Euronews noted that the extent of Israel’s relationship with the three newly named bodies before the announcement was unclear. The Jerusalem Post also said the ministry would “thoroughly examine additional organizations” and make further decisions later.
Wider UN tensions and UNRWA mentions
Euronews reported Israel has long accused UN agencies of bias, and said tensions sharpened particularly after the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza. Euronews also reported Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants and claimed some employees took part in the 7 October 2023 assault, while noting investigations found “neutrality-related issues” and that UNRWA said Israel had not provided conclusive evidence.
Euronews reported that in 2024, two laws were passed barring UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and from having contact with Israeli authorities. It also reported UNRWA said it would fire 571 employees outside the Gaza Strip, citing “financial difficulties.”
Separately, the Jerusalem Post reported UNRWA criticised Israel over legislation related to cutting off electricity, water, and communications from UNRWA facilities in Gaza, describing it as “outrageous,” and said the bill passed its third and final reading with 59 votes for and seven against. The Jerusalem Post identified the measure as Bill 6786-2025 and said it amended three existing UNRWA-related bills, including the Law for the Cessation of UNRWA Activities in Israel.
