The German government said it “sharply” criticised a bill passed by Israel’s parliament to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from working in Israel and occupied east Jerusalem, AFP reports.

Germany’s Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, Luise Amtsberg, also warned the move would “effectively make UNRWA’s work in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem impossible […[ jeopardising vital humanitarian aid for millions of people”.

Amtsberg said the implementation of the law as it currently stands “would be a fateful step” and that “our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East would be hindered”.

“The Israeli action against a UN-mandated organization that has been doing vital work since 1950 is a dangerous signal of disrespect for the United Nations and for international cooperation,” she said.

Amtsberg acknowledged that “UNRWA has taken measures to address allegations of support for terrorist organisations by individual staff members and to reform internal procedures”.

She said the UN agency “must continue to implement these reforms as a high priority and further strengthen its neutrality”.