Israel has formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory despite heavy diplomatic backlash.

Israel’s Knesset (parliament) voted in October to ban UNRWA’s operations in areas under Israeli occupation, alleging that the UN agency’s employees were involved in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 -- a charge UNRWA denies.

The laws block the UNRWA from operating on Israeli territory and prohibit Israeli officials from having any contact with the agency. View on euronews

Israel demands UNRWA halt operations in Jerusalem by January 30, citing Hamas ties and security risks. The move follows Knesset legislation severing ties with the agency.

The UN has said that its aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, will continue working in all Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem, as Israel cut ties with the organisation.

The United Nation's Palestinian refugee agency said on Sunday it had been ordered by Israel to vacate premises and cease all of its operations in occupied East Jerusalem by Thursday.

Iman Helles, a displaced mother sheltering in a facility run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, fears that she will now be “thrown out to the streets” with her three children.

Israel decided to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees following accusations some of its staff belong to Hamas.