Israel has voted today a law that prohibits the UN Agency for aid to the Palestinians, "UNRWA", to operate within its territory.
The legislation to ban UNRWA from operating inside Israel, passed by the Knesset just minutes ago, deals a major blow to the UN agency, which has provided essential aid and assistance throughout the Palestinian territories and to refugees Palestinians for more than seven decades.
The legislation does not take effect immediately. The bill will take effect 60 to 90 days after Israel's foreign ministry notifies the UN, according to a spokesman for one of the law's co-sponsors.
As Tal Schneider of the Times of Israel reports, Israel has three months to determine the assets and personnel that will take over the responsibilities currently managed by UNRWA, including East Jerusalem and Gaza.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East is a UN agency that supports humanitarian aid and development for Palestine refugees.