MOSCOW: Israel terminates its cooperation with the United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, announced, reported Sputnik//RIA Novosti.

"Following the legislation on UNRWA, we officially informed the president of the General Assembly of the termination of cooperation with the organisation," the diplomat said in a statement.

A week ago, the Israeli parliament passed two bills banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and barring Israeli authorities from contacting the UN agency, the main provider of aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that the move effectively delegitimised the agency's efforts to provide aid to Palestinian refugees.

-- BERNAMA