Top British and Norwegian diplomats have expressed support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees as Israel plans to enact two laws that ban the organisation from Israeli territory later this month, Al Jazeera reports.

In a post on X, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini and expressed his gratitude and firm support for the agency.

“UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian work in Palestine, for securing education & health for Palestine refugees until a just political solution. Banning @UNRWA is an unprecedented attack on the UN,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the imminent Israeli legislation means UNRWA “faces a cliff edge in their ability to support Palestinian refugees across the West Bank and Gaza”.

He said: “Today I met with them to reiterate our firm support. Israel must prevent the further collapse of humanitarian operations in Gaza.”