WHO Approves Palestinian Flag at HQ as U.S. Exit Leaves Israel Isolated

In a controversial move that critics say politicizes global health institutions, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved a resolution on Monday allowing the Palestinian flag to be flown at its Geneva headquarters. The decision, passed by a lopsided vote of 95 to 4 during the WHO's annual assembly, was backed by China, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia and widely condemned by Israel and its supporters as an overtly political gesture that strays far from the organization's founding mission of impartiality in global health.

Israel found itself virtually isolated in its opposition, joined only by Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany, while 27 countries abstained. The United States previously a strong advocate for Israel at international forums was notably absent. This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on January 20 withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO, citing its mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and undue influence from China. Under President Biden, the U.S. had contributed over $1.2 billion to the organization in 2022 and 2023.

The Palestinian Authority, which already holds observer status at the WHO, hailed the vote as a “historic” moment. Palestinian envoy Ibrahim Khraishi praised the move, claiming it symbolized global support for Palestinian health rights. “It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs,” he told Reuters. Lebanon’s delegate Rana el Khoury echoed the sentiment, calling it “a small ray of hope” for Palestinians amid escalating tensions and hardship.

However, Israeli officials sharply criticized the vote, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent by further legitimizing a Palestinian leadership that refuses to renounce violence, continues to pay stipends to convicted terrorists, and persistently avoids peace negotiations. “The WHO has betrayed its mandate,” one Israeli diplomat stated. “This is a health organization, not a political theater for anti-Israel propaganda.”

Critics also accuse the WHO of an entrenched anti-Israel and antisemitic bias, frequently singling out the Jewish state for condemnation while ignoring egregious human rights abuses in nations such as Iran, North Korea, and Syria. In recent years, the organization has passed multiple resolutions criticizing Israel’s health policies in the West Bank and Gaza while offering little scrutiny of Hamas's use of hospitals and civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

The resolution comes just weeks after the Palestinian Authority gained notification rights under the WHO’s International Health Regulations, another incremental step in President Mahmoud Abbas’s broader campaign to achieve de facto statehood recognition through international bodies, rather than through direct negotiation with Israel.

With nearly 150 countries now recognizing Palestinian statehood, despite ongoing incitement and refusal to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state, Israel faces increasing isolation on the international stage. The absence of the U.S. from the WHO has further weakened its ability to counter these diplomatic offensives.

As political agendas continue to seep into institutions meant to uphold global cooperation and neutrality, critics warn that the WHO’s credibility as an impartial health body is rapidly eroding. "The organization should be focused on global health crises, not waving the flag for entities that glorify violence,” said an Israeli health official. “This vote sends the wrong message not just to Israel, but to the world.”