The United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees announced on Sunday that Israel has instructed it to vacate its facilities and halt all operations in occupied East Jerusalem by Thursday.

In October, Israeli lawmakers enacted legislation that prohibits UNRWA from operating within the country and restricts Israeli authorities from engaging with the agency, although exceptions may apply.

The majority of the international community, including the U.N., views East Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, as territories occupied by Israel. Conversely, the Israeli government asserts that all of Jerusalem is an integral part of the nation.

UNRWA stated that the directive to cease operations contradicts Israel’s obligations as a member state of the United Nations. The agency emphasized that “United Nations premises are inviolable and enjoy privileges and immunities under the United Nations Charter,” and that Israel is required to uphold these UN “privileges and immunities.”

UNRWA employs approximately 30,000 individuals who assist Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East.

When asked whether UNRWA staff would remain in East Jerusalem after January 30, Communications Director Juliette Touma responded, “We don’t know. Our international staff have visas valid until January 29 only for the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. If their visas are not renewed, they will need to depart.” She also noted that it remains uncertain whether UNRWA would be required to immediately discontinue its services in East Jerusalem.

If enacted, this legislation would result in over 1,100 students losing access to education and an additional 70,000 patients being denied primary health care, she stated. Israeli lawmakers who proposed the law against UNRWA pointed to alleged connections between certain agency staff and the October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel, as well as claims of staff affiliations with Hamas and other militant organizations. A U.N. inquiry revealed that nine UNRWA employees might have participated in the attack, leading to their dismissal.

This legislation has raised concerns among the U.N. and several of Israel’s Western allies, who worry it could exacerbate the already critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza following 15 months of conflict. While the ban does not specifically address operations in the West Bank and Gaza, the limitations on Israeli authorities’ interactions with the agency are expected to affect its activities in those regions.