Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has historically been strained, but over the past year, tensions have reached new levels. On October 28, the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) passed a law to prohibit operations of the UN’s relief and works agency (Unrwa) – the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees – within the territory it controls.

While the law has not been immediately implemented, the announcement of its passage drew strong condemnation from UNRWA, the United States, and others.

Israel's decision to ban the U.N. relief agency UNRWA could result in the deaths of more children and represent a form of collective punishment for Gazans if fully implemented, U.N. agencies said on Tuesday.