What this rates: whether the body's claim to be impartial is supported by the record — not whether any particular ruling or report is right. The evidence on both sides is shown with sources. These bodies are cited elsewhere on this site as sources for what they ruled, found or alleged, not as proof that the underlying facts are true.

The General Assembly resolution that created the Council in 2006 says its work "shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity."

• A permanent, single-country agenda item. Since 2007 the Council's standing agenda has included Item 7, "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories." No other country or conflict has its own permanent item; every other situation is handled under general items.
• Volume of condemnations. UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog that is openly critical of the UN's treatment of Israel, counts more Council resolutions condemning Israel since 2006 than condemning all other countries combined.
• Early warning from the Secretary-General. In November 2006, after the Council held three special sessions on Israel in its first months, Kofi Annan told it: "There are surely other situations, besides the one in the Middle East, which would merit scrutiny at a special session," naming Darfur.
• An open-ended inquiry. In 2021 the Council created a standing Commission of Inquiry on Israel and the Palestinian territories with no end date. In 2022 one of its three members, Miloon Kothari, said social media was controlled largely by "the Jewish lobby"; he later apologized. All three members resigned in July 2025, citing age, health and other reasons.
• Withdrawals. The United States left the Council in 2018 and again in 2025, citing its treatment of Israel among other reasons.

• The Council also runs inquiries and special rapporteurs on Syria, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar and others; its 2014 inquiry on North Korea found crimes against humanity.
• Supporters argue Item 7 reflects an occupation that has lasted since 1967, which they consider unique.
• Its Commission of Inquiry's 2026 report documented executions, torture and abuse of civilians by Hamas-affiliated forces in Gaza (see our fact check).