Israel’s parliament last Monday banned UNRWA — Gaza’s main aid agency — from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, despite objections from the international community.

If implemented, the ban would be a blow to humanitarian work in Gaza, according to experts.

The ban came after the United States on October 15 warned Israel that it could withhold some of its billions in military aid if it did not improve aid delivery to Gaza within 30 days.

Also in Deir el-Balah on Sunday, relatives at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital mourned the bodies of a father and son killed during Israeli bombing.

Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel left 1,206 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Israel’s military response against Hamas has killed 43,314 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s Ministry of Health, which the United Nations considers reliable.

During their attack, Palestinian militants captured 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still in Gaza. The Israeli military says 34 of them are dead.