Canberra | Australia has joined international condemnation after Israel passed a law on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) banning the UN Palestinian refugee agency from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza.

The legislators who drafted the law cited what they described as the involvement of some United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staffers in the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel and staffers having membership in Hamas and other armed groups.