The Israel formally notified the UN today of the cancellation of the agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), after the Knesset passed a bill last week banning the agency’s activities on Israeli soil, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

A week ago, the Israeli parliament approved by a large majority a law banning UNRWA activities in the country, sparking an international outcry.

Israel has long criticized that UN agency, and has accused its members of being involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli territory that sparked the war in the Gaza Strip.

“UNRWA, the organization whose members participated in the October 7 massacre and which has many employees who are members of Hamas, is part of the problem in the Gaza Strip, not part of the solution. The UN has received countless evidence that Hamas agents are working in UNRWA and using its facilities for terrorist purposes, but has done nothing on the issue,” the statement added.

The agreement with the UN agency was signed in 1967. The UNRWA provides vital assistance and support to Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian territories and many other countries in the region. The suspension of its activities will be a serious blow to humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip if it takes effect, experts say.

But Israel rejects this argument, claiming that only a portion of the humanitarian aid provided in Gaza comes from UNRWA.

“The vast majority of humanitarian aid in Gaza is delivered by other organizations and only 13% of the aid comes from UNRWA,” it was said today.

“The State of Israel is committed to international law and will continue to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in a manner that does not affect the security of Israeli citizens,” the statement stressed.