Israel has alleged that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is full of Hamas operatives and reaffirmed its commitment to end ties with the agency this week.
"UNRWA equals Hamas. Israel has made public, irrefutable evidence, UNRWA is riddled with Hamas operatives," government spokesman David Mencer told journalists as Israel prepares to cut its ties with the agency tomorrow.
Mr Mencer alleged: "Israel makes clear... if a state funds UNRWA, that state is funding terrorists. UNRWA employs over 1,200 Hamas members, including terrorists who carried out the 7 October massacre."
He added: "This isn't aid, it's direct financial support for terror."
UNRWA's offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of healthcare and education to Palestinians, including those living in Gaza devastated by 15 months of war with Israel.
The agency says it has brought in 60% of the food aid that has reached Gaza since the war started with Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
However, it has long clashed with Israeli officials, who have repeatedly accused it of undermining the country's security.
UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in annexed east Jerusalem tomorrow, the Israeli envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told the UN Security Council yesterday.
UN chief Antonio Guterres demanded that Israel retract its order.
"I regret this decision and request that the government of Israel retract it," he said, stressing that UNRWA was "irreplaceable".
Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the deadly 2023 attack and insists that other agencies can pick up the slack to provide essential services, aid and reconstruction - something the UN and many donor governments dispute.
A series of investigations, including one led by French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some "neutrality related issues" at UNRWA - but stressed Israel had not provided evidence for its headline allegation.
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