NEW DELHI: Israel has officially notified the United Nations that it was severing ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said the Israeli foreign ministry on Monday.

The nation, as per reports, said that it was cancelling the agreement that has regulated its relations with the UNRWA since 1967. The UN aid organisation has provided aid to Palestinian refugees since 1948. 

This move follows a law passed by the Knesset recently, barring the agency from operating within Israel and banning Israeli officials from collaborating with it. 

Israel has long opposed UNRWA's presence, and claims that the agency perpetuates refugee status among Palestinians and fosters anti-Israel sentiment. Israel's discontent grew following the October 7 attacks, with Israeli officials claiming that Hamas had infiltrated UNRWA's Gaza operations and alleged that some staff members had been involved in the assault.

Danny Danon, the Israeli Ambassador to the UN in a statement said that despite Israel providing overwhelming evidence "we submitted to the UN highlighting how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the UN did nothing to address this reality".

The recent ban has triggered concern among UN leaders and Western allies, who fear that without UNRWA's operations, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza could intensify. 

Israel's legislation does not directly stop UNRWA's work in the West Bank and Gaza, areas that remain under Israeli occupation, but it is expected to significantly hinder the agency's ability to work there. 

Even as did groups and Israel's allies worry that ending cooperation with UNRWA may destabilise already fragile conditions Israel said that activity by other international organisations would be expanded. "Preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to boost alternatives to UNRWA," it said