Palestinians gather to receive bags of flour distributed by UNRWA, the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip.AP
It appeared to be the first step in implementing legislation passed last month that would sever ties with the agency, which Israel claims without evidence has been infiltrated by Hamas, and prevent it from operating in Israel.
The UNRWA denies the allegations and says it takes measures to ensure its neutrality.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had notified the UN of the cancellation of an agreement dating back to 1967 that facilitates UNRWA’s work, AP reported.
United Nations, aid groups and world leaders have warned that the legislation could severely hamper UNRWA’s work, creating further obstacles to addressing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The UN stresses UNRWA is essential.
The agency provides education, health and other basic services to Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war and their descendants, who now number nearly 6 million.
Refugee families make up the majority of Gaza’s population.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday expressed "grave concern" over the Israeli ban.
In a statement, the Council called on "all parties to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the UN General Assembly, in all areas of operation," saying the agency was the "backbone" of humanitarian relief in war-ravaged Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly blocked aid delivery attempts by UNRWA to the strip since 7 October, killed more than two hundred of its staff, and bombed tens of UNRWA facilities sought as shelter from Palestinians fleeing Israeli airstrikes.
"No organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance," the Council said.
"These (Israeli) measures seek to end the Palestinian people’s aspirations for self-determination and close the door once and for all to the two-state solution, thus setting back sustainable efforts to achieve peace in the region. They are in flagrant violation of the rulings of the International Court of Justice and relevant UN resolutions," Sahar Al-Jobury, head of UNRWA representative's office in Cairo.
She further stressed that if these measures aim to end the refugee issue and the right of return, this reflects a misunderstanding of the facts.
The UN official noted that General Assembly Resolution 194 recognized the rights of Palestinian refugees, including the right of return, before the establishment of UNRWA.
Under international law, Israel has an obligation to help the Palestinian population under occupation.
The UN views Gaza as Israeli-occupied territory, along with the West Bank and Jerusalem and international law requires an occupying power to agree to relief programs for people in need and to facilitate them "by all the means at its disposal."
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