The law that bans the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees in Gaza went into effect on Wednesday.

The United Nations Palestinian aid agency UNRWA said on Thursday that its operations in Gaza and the West Bank were ongoing despite an Israeli ban. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres,

Without UNRWA, food delivery, healthcare, education and other services would be drastically undermined in occupied Palestinian territory, with direct and dire impacts on human rights of tens of thousands of Palestinians,

The Israeli government ban on UNRWA over national security concerns and links to terrorism began Jan. 30. UNRWA has called the move by Jerusalem as "disastrous."

Millions of Palestinians rely on the UN agency, not only in Gaza but also across the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. | ITV National News

Bill Deere, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA), discussed with ABC News on Wednesday relief efforts in Gaza and

The repercussions will be serious, most acutely effecting Gaza, but also having the potential to push the situation in the West Bank across the brink,' says senior researcher - Anadolu Ajansı

The Israeli Parliament voted in favour of banning the United Nations' aid programme to Palestinians three months ago, claiming "UNRWA is Hamas".

Stephane Dujarric says the agency also continues to deliver health and education assistance and food aid in the Gaza Strip

Israel on Thursday formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory. Humanitarian officials warn could have a disastrous impact on aid delivery and jeopardize regional stability in the long term.

The ban effectively cuts off the UN aid agency from delivering critical aid to Gaza, putting millions of Palestinians at risk after 15 months of war have devastated the region.