The UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA is continuing to deliver assistance and services in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem on Thursday, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric as a ban on the agency in Israel came into effect.

The Israeli government ban on UNRWA over national security concerns and links to terrorism began Jan. 30. UNRWA has called the move by Jerusalem as "disastrous."

Israel demands UNRWA halt operations in Jerusalem by January 30, citing Hamas ties and security risks. The move follows Knesset legislation severing ties with the agency.

On Thursday, laws passed by Israel in October come into effect banning the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA, from Israeli territory and prohibiting Israeli officials from any contact with the agency.

The headquarters of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, was deserted on Wednesday as staff left before a pair of Israeli laws came into effect Thursday banning the organisation from operating on Israeli territory and prohibiting Israeli officials from any contact with the agency.

The United Nation's Palestinian refugee agency said on Sunday it had been ordered by Israel to vacate premises and cease all of its operations in occupied East Jerusalem by Thursday.

Nearly all Security Council members express solidarity, support for UN agency for Palestinian refugees - Anadolu Ajansı

UN agency for Palestinian refugees is indispensable part of operation, and they need to remain,' says UN humanitarian office spokesperson - Anadolu Ajansı

The UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA is continuing to deliver assistance and services in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem on Thursday, said

The exchange involved three Israeli hostages and five Thais freed by Gaza militants. Photo by Haneen Salem / Anadolu via Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners have left an Israeli prison, after chaos during the release by Gaza militants of three Israeli hostages and five Thais led to a brief delay in the process.

Israel on Thursday formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory despite heavy diplomatic backlash, a move that humanitarian officials warn could have a disastrous impact on aid delivery and jeopardize regional stability in the long term.