The Defense Department on Tuesday condemned a pair of bills passed this week by Israel’s parliament that would effectively bar UNRWA, the U.N.’s primary Palestinian relief agency, from operating inside the country. Biden administration officials said the legislation, passed Monday in the Knesset, could trigger an even greater crisis inside the Gaza Strip.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters U.S. military officials were “deeply troubled” by the new laws, which will come into effect in 90 days. He said guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians inside the Gaza Strip remains a priority for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

“There are millions of Palestinians who rely on that aid, so implementing this legislation would pose significant risks for those who are dependent on that aid,” Gen. Ryder said. “We will continue to urge the government of Israel to pause implementation of the legislation.”

Israeli officials have accused UNRWA of having a number of Hamas terrorists on its payroll, including some who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 rampage into southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and resulted in hundreds of others being taken hostage.

“UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after the legislation was passed. “Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future.”

UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillipe Lazzarini also blasted Israeli lawmakers for passing the measures. In a statement, he said it sets a dangerous precedent and violates Israel’s obligations under international law. Palestinian health officials say more than 42,000 people have died — both militants and noncombatants — in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in response the October 7 attacks.

“This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and de-legitimize its role towards providing human development assistance and services to Palestinian refugees,” Mr. Lazzarini said in a statement. “These bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza where people have been going through more than a year of hell.”

He called the Israeli legislation “nothing less than collective punishment.”

Defense Secretary Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel in a letter to their counterparts that military aid could be restricted unless Mr. Netanyahu’s government takes concrete steps to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and allow international humanitarian aid into the densely populated enclave.

“We believe that UNRWA plays an important role in terms of providing aid to millions of Palestinians,” Gen. Ryder said. “We’ll continue to urge Israel to pause implementing the legislation that would potentially prevent that aid from getting to them.”

Mr. Netanyahu says his government is ready to work with international partners to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that also protects the security of Israel.