UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing his concerns over the new legislation that banned a UN agency’s operations, a UN spokesperson said.

The Israeli parliament passed two laws on Monday to prohibit the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in the country and ban Israeli authorities from any contact with the agency.

Mr Guterres outlined in the letter “the issues of international law that have been raised by this law,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, said at a press conference.

“Obviously, if implemented, it is clear that it would have a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation of Palestinians,” Mr Dujarric said.

Mr Guterres stressed that UNRWA is the principal means by which essential assistance is supplied to Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory.

“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” said the UN chief.

He warned that the new laws could have devastating consequences for Palestinian refugees, calling it “unacceptable.”

The laws would be “detrimental for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace and security in the region as a whole,” Mr Guterres said.

He urged Israel to adhere to the UN Charter and international law, including humanitarian law and provisions regarding UN privileges and immunities.

Before the legislation was passed, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Australia issued a statement expressing “grave concern,” Reuters reported.

Other countries, including Türkiye, Qatar, Ireland and Norway, opposed Israel’s latest decision.

Mr Dujarric said the UN chief is heartened by the statements of support that have come in for UNRWA.

He added that there has been an expression of unity “from a number of countries that often don’t agree on much in their support.”

(Xinhua/NAN)