Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Israel's immediate withdrawal from seven United Nations agencies, citing alleged anti-Israel bias and "ineffective bureaucracy" as primary reasons for the decision.

The agencies affected include the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UN Conference on Trade and Development, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, UN Alliance of Civilizations, UN Energy, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development.

In an official press release, the Foreign Ministry of Israel justified the withdrawal from the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict by citing the agency's decision to add the IDF to its "blacklist" in its annual report on children in armed conflict. "Israel is the only democratic country to be listed, alongside ISIS and Boko Haram," the ministry's statement noted.

Regarding UN Women, Sa'ar's office stated the agency "deliberately ignored all cases of sexual violence committed against Israeli women on October 7, 2023." The ministry cited "virulent anti-Israel reports" from both the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia as grounds for withdrawal from those bodies.

The ministry characterised the Alliance of Civilisations as a "platform for attacks against Israel," while describing UN Energy as a "wasteful organisation" exemplifying the UN's "excessive and inefficient bureaucracy." The Global Forum on Migration and Development was accused of eroding "the ability of sovereign nations to enforce their own immigration laws."

The announcement coincides with Israel's Security Cabinet's scheduled deliberation on the second phase of the Gaza peace agreement on January 13.

The timing of this announcement, coinciding with the Security Cabinet's meeting, suggests Israel may be looking to limit its UN ties, which could signal a broader shift in Israel's approach to international institutions as it seeks to navigate international relations.