Israel’s legislature, the Knesset, passed two bills on Monday ending the Israeli government’s ties to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, effectively banning the organization from working inside Israel or with Israeli officials.

The first bill bans UNRWA from operating in Israel, including east Jerusalem. The bill was passed with 92 members of the Knesset voting in favor and 10 against. This will also force UNRWA to close its office in Jerusalem.

The second bill prohibits any Israeli state or government agency from working with or “contacting” UNRWA or any person on UNRWA’s behalf. This applies to all Israeli organizations working with UNRWA in Gaza and the West Bank. The bill was passed with 87 members of the Knesset voting in favor and nine against.

UNRWA is the main UN aid agency operating in Gaza. This second bill would prohibit COGAT, the Israeli agency that manages coordination with Gaza and the West Bank, from working with UNRWA to coordinate the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel accused most of the UNRWA members in the field of being affiliated with Hamas.

There is a three-month waiting period for both bills to come into force. The bills are expected to be challenged in Israel’s supreme court.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the two bills as “unprecedented” and said they set a “dangerous precedent” in a post on X following the passage of both.

“These bills will further deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, where people have been living hell for more than a year,” Lazzarini said. he said. “This bill increases the suffering of Palestinians” & “It is nothing but collective punishment.”

-ABC News’ Dana Savir and Jordana Miller