Philippe Lazzarini told a meeting of the UN Security Council: “The relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory.

“It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security.”

UNRWA has been told to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by Thursday following bills passed by the Israeli parliament in October banning its operations in Israel and the Palestinian territories and designating it a terror organisation.