World leaders and international aid organisations have voiced fears for the delivery of crucial aid in Gaza after the Israeli parliament’s vote to ban the UN relief and works agency (Unrwa), with secretary general Antonio Guterres saying on Monday night: “There is no alternative to Unrwa.”

Guterres said the UN agency would be prevented from doing UN general assembly-mandated work if Israel implemented the laws, which would ban the agency from conducting “any activity” or providing any service inside Israel, including the areas of annexed East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

Guterres called on Israel “to act consistently with its obligations” under the UN Charter and international law, saying: “National legislation cannot alter those obligations.”

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