Hamas denounces Knesset approval of bill to ban UN agency in Jerusalem

Hamas on Thursday condemned the voting on a bill in a preliminary reading in the Knesset, or Israel's parliament, to ban the work of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem and Israel.

The Palestinian group said the move is to "terminate the work of the agency which represents an international witness on the suffering of our people, on their forcible expulsion from their homes and on their right to return to them."

"We reject this occupation decision which contradicts the related international resolutions," said Hamas.

It urged the international community and the UN "to take all necessary steps and measures to ensure the continuity of the agency's work."

The Knesset passed a bill Wednesday in its preliminary reading to ban UNRWA in Israel and the occupied West Bank. The bill, however, needs to pass three more readings before becoming law.

It prohibits UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory and instructs police to take action to enforce the prohibition.

Israel accuses 12 UNRWA staffers of being involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which Tel Aviv said killed less than 1,200 people.

Several countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Canada, have suspended funding to the UN agency following the Israeli accusations.

The agency has said that it is investigating the allegations.