US President Donald Trump revoked a host of what he called “harmful” executive orders and actions under former President Joe Biden that included the sanctioning of Jews living in the West Bank accused of undermining peace and security.
He also halted funding to Unrwa, the agency which distributes aid in Gaza but which Israel has repeatedly accused of employing staff with close links to terror group Hamas. The UN has admitted that nine of the agency’s staff may been involved in the October 7 attack on Israel.
On his first day in office, Trump stated on Monday, “The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal and radical practices within every agency and office of the federal government.”
He said the revocations he announced on Inauguration Day would be “the first of many steps the United States federal government will take to repair our institutions and our economy.”
Both American and Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza appeared at Trump's inauguration ceremony on Monday. They were welcomed on stage by Middle East Envoy Steve Witcoff, a key figure in facilitating the ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Standing directly behind Trump was Noa Argamani, one of the few hostages rescued during an IDF operation. Meanwhile, Daniel Neutra, the younger brother of Omer whose body remains in Gaza, drew thunderous applause after raising a poster of his brother and pumping his fist in the air.
US President Donald Trump speaks alongside relatives of Israeli hostages including Noa Argamani (Image: Getty)
Trump also signed an executive order to protect the United States from “foreign terrorists and other national security and public threats”, which mandates the government to remain "vigilant" in issuing visas to foreign nationals. The order stresses that those approved for entry must not pose a threat to Americans or national interests.
The US had historically been Unrwa’s largest contributor but had suspended contributions to the agency until March this year in the wake of the recent conflict.
Trump’s repeal of the sanctions on settlers follows a number of measures taken by his predecessor.
On February 1, President Biden froze the assets of four Israeli residents in the West Bank, accusing them of committing violent crimes and cutting them off from the US banking system.
Then, on July 11, the Biden administration sanctioned five Israeli entities and three individuals for "violent extremism," though one of the sanctioned Israelis was misidentified, leading to the wrong person being targeted.
On November 18, the Biden administration sanctioned three more Israelis and three entities, again saying that those sanctioned “undermine peace, security and stability in the West Bank and the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians”. In January, two Israeli-Americans sued the Biden administration, saying they had been improperly sanctioned and denied due process.
A group gathers near a gate under the watch of Israeli soldiers in the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank, as part of security measures to protect Israelis (Image: Getty)
In the final week of his presidency, Biden extended the national emergency with respect to the West Bank that he declared on February 1 for another year, to February 1, 2026.
Trump also cancelled an executive order which Biden made three years ago to end the “national emergency” relating to the International Criminal Court.
The court, which is based in The Hague and which is independent of the United Nations, has since sought arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
By revoking Biden’s executive order, Trump restores an earlier order that rejected the court’s “illegitimate assertions of jurisdiction over personnel of the United States and certain of its allies” and sanctioned those connected to the court who asserted such jurisdiction.
Mark Dubowitz, chief executive of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies said the president was reimposing sanctions on ICC officials “who target Americans and Israelis. Next up: the Senate will follow the House’s lead by passing legislation that enshrines these sanctions into permanent law.”
The pro-Israel advocacy group Aipac said: “We thank President Donald Trump for reinstating the sanctions against International Criminal Court officials who target for prosecution Americans and our democratic allies.
“We urge the Senate to join the House in adopting legislation making it permanent law to apply these sanctions.”
