The Israeli army has announced the seizure of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) main headquarters’ land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem to build 1,440 colonial housing units.

According to Emirates News Agency this decision follows the approval of a draft bill by Israel’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that aims to sever ties between Israel and UNRWA.

The bill, expected to be put to a second and third reading next week, is part of a series of bills proposed by several Knesset members to restrict the agency’s activities.