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.

The directive came in a letter to the U.N., after the Israeli Parliament banned the relief agency that has aided Palestinian refugees for decades.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) criticized Israel's order to cease its activities in occupied Jerusalem, citing violations of international law. The agency underscored the inviolability of its properties and assets under the UN Charter and urged Israel to respect their legal obligations and safeguard UNRWA's facilities.

Israel’s Knesset (parliament) voted in October to ban UNRWA’s operations in areas under Israeli occupation, alleging that the UN agency’s employees were involved in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 -- a charge UNRWA denies.

UNRWA highlights severe impacts on Palestinian lives if Israel closes its east Jerusalem headquarters, affecting schools and clinics.

Israel on Friday said that the UN's Palestinian aid agency UNRWA has until the end of January to leave Jerusalem. UNRWA must "cease its operations in Jerusalem, and evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city,

This marks the enforcement of legislation passed by the Knesset in October 2024 that bans UNRWA’s operations within Israel's jurisdiction - Click on the link for more

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees must end operations and leave all its premises in Jerusalem by January 30, Israel's UN ambassador said Friday, affirming timelines set out in controversial Israeli legislation.