GENEVA (Reuters) - Israel is actively encouraging U.N. agencies and other aid groups to take over the work of the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, Israel's ambassador said on Monday, after banning the agency on Israeli territory in January.

UNRWA has been banned from operating on Israeli soil after it was accused of providing cover for Hamas militants. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA has warned that the situation in Gaza is "deteriorating very, very quickly", more than a week after Israel again halted all supplies from entering the Gaza Strip.

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UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has accused Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid by imposing a blockade on goods and electricity needed by the embattled Gaza Strip.

Israel said Monday that it was "encouraging" other UN agencies and NGOs to take over the assistance provided in war-ravaged Gaza by UNRWA, after Israel cut ties with the aid agency. Israel, he said, was actively "encouraging UN agencies and NGOs to take over".

There is a risk that Gaza experiences another hunger crisis if Israel continues to block aid, the head of the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) in Gaza said on Monday, warning the situation is quickly deteriorating.