Palestinians enter the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) health centre, which provides free treatment, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on October 29, 2024. Photo: VCG

Israel passed a law on Monday banning the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza, Reuters reported. 

According to the UN website, in the statement of the Secretary-General on Israeli legislation on UNRWA, Antonio Guterres said he is "deeply concerned by the adoption today by the Knesset of Israel of two laws concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)."  

"The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable. I call on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law, including under international humanitarian law and those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations," he said. 

"If UNRWA goes away, you will see civilians - including children, including babies - not be able to get access to food and water and medicine that they need to live. We find that unacceptable," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also criticized, the Times of Israel reported.  

UNRWA has existed even during peacetime, indicating that the livelihoods of Palestinian people require external support, and now in the current situation, its role has become even more crucial, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. 

"If Israel proceeds to ban this agency's operations, it would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," Liu said. 

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 43,000, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday citing Gaza-based health authorities.

From an international law perspective, Israel's disregard for the UN's authority manifests in concrete actions, such as shredding the charter of the UN and banning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, Liu said. 

Israel's relationship with the UN reflects a blatant disregard for the authority of the organization, observers said.

According to Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he hopes to reach peace deals with more Arab countries once the war against Hamas and Hezbollah is complete. "I emphasize peace for peace, peace out of strength with important countries in the Middle East," Netanyahu said Monday, NDTV reported. 

While Israel is moving to ban the UN agency, Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon on Monday night killed at least 60 people and wounded dozens, according to Lebanese authorities. The strikes are among the deadliest since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated last month, CNN reported.