Egypt says Israel ban on UN Palestinian agency 'unacceptable'

Egypt has condemned Israel's decision to ban the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, calling it an "unacceptable disregard" for the UN, its agencies and the international community.

Israel officially informed the UN on Monday of its decision to cut ties with Unrwa, following a vote by Israeli lawmakers to bar the organisation, which is seen as vital for Palestinians.

"Egypt strongly condemns Israel's withdrawal from the agreement governing the operations of Unrwa and its formal suspension of operations," Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook late Monday.

The ministry called the move a "dangerous development" aimed at erasing the Palestinian cause, adding that the decision represented "a new chapter in Israel's blatant and systematic violations of international law and international humanitarian law".