Despite an Israeli ban on its operations now officially in place but not yet enforced, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it is continuing to work and remains “absolutely committed” to providing services such as free healthcare and education in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking to the UN’s media platform, UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler admitted that the organisation was now operating in a “nightmare scenario”.

Fowler said that UNRWA has 5,000 staff still working in Gaza as the “backbone of the international aid operation” and their work may be compromised by the situation.

“Our biggest fear is that there is no plan B,” he said.

Israel has passed laws that stop UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory as well as occupied East Jerusalem and bans all “contact” between UNRWA and Israeli officials.