Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has historically been strained, but over the past year, tensions have reached new levels. On October 28, the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) passed a law to prohibit operations of the UN’s relief and works agency (Unrwa) – the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees – within the territory it controls.

With a consequential presidential election in days, President Joe Biden faces a difficult task after pigeonholing his administration into blind support for Israel.

The UNRWA agency said on Monday that Israel's ban on its operations would lead to the "collapse" of humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip.