Displaced Israelis Sue Over Promised Housing Grants After Oct. 7

Nearly three years after being displaced by the October 7th Hamas attacks, 1,445 Israeli citizens who evacuated their homes in southern and northern Israel are still awaiting a promised "occupancy grant." These individuals chose to find their own housing rather than accept state-funded accommodations, such as hotels, with the understanding they would receive financial compensation. However, their applications have been stalled, with many denied the grant because state records indicate they stayed in hotels, even though they claim they evacuated independently.

This discrepancy has led to some individuals being denied the grant and, in some cases, incurring debts with the National Insurance Institute. Four residents of Sderot, represented by the Association for Civil Rights, have filed a petition with the High Court of Justice against the Minister of Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism, and the National Insurance Institute. Their appeals regarding the denial of the grant remain unresolved.

The High Court recently issued an order nisi, demanding the Ministry of Tourism explain why it has not established a clear procedure for handling cases where evacuees dispute hotel records and assert they never stayed in state-funded accommodations. The ministry claims it cannot arbitrate between the evacuees' claims and the hotels' reports.

One of the petitioners, Osnat Kakon, shared her experience of being displaced from Sderot after a rocket hit her home. Despite following the state's instructions to find her own lodging and expecting compensation, she discovered she was registered as staying in a hotel, leading to the denial of her grant. She presented evidence, including reserve duty and employer confirmations, to support her claim of being elsewhere during the evacuation period.

The Ministry of Tourism stated in its response to the petition that it lacks the authority to decide on these appeals and that new legislation is required. They also mentioned attempts to facilitate mediation between evacuees and hotels. However, the High Court has ordered the ministry to provide a detailed explanation within 60 days regarding its failure to establish a procedure for reviewing and deciding on these appeals.