Israel must step in if it bans agency that is lifeline for Gaza, UN says

Israeli soldiers at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza in February (Ariel Schalit/AP)

The United Nations has stressed that if Israel puts in place new laws cutting ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the Israeli government will have to meet their needs under international law.

Secretary-general Antonio Guterres says there is no other UN alternative to the agency, known as UNRWA.