Israeli Supreme Court Demands Timeline for Refugee Camp Residents' Return

The Israeli Supreme Court has ordered the state to present a timeline for the return of residents to the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps. The court's directive, issued on October 11, 2026, also requires the state to explore ways to expedite this process. This decision stems from a petition filed in September 2025 by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel on behalf of residents displaced during the "Iron Sword" operation. The petition sought permission for the displaced to return and for their humanitarian needs to be met until then.

According to the Association for Civil Rights, residents have been barred from their homes since the operation began in January 2025. The state had previously argued in August that security conditions prevented their return, deeming continued military presence in the camps necessary. While acknowledging efforts to establish external military sites for future troop withdrawal, the state admitted that work on planned sites in Tulkarm and Nur Shams was in its early stages.

Furthermore, the state reported no significant progress in coordinating with the Palestinian Authority to transfer responsibility for the camps and noted a lack of substantial infrastructure repairs in the four months preceding its statement. The state claimed that approximately 90% of displaced individuals had found alternative housing and that their humanitarian needs were being adequately addressed. However, the petitioners presented contrasting data from international and humanitarian organizations, including photographic evidence and resident testimonies, indicating severe economic hardship and unmet basic needs among the displaced.

The Supreme Court has mandated the state to provide a clear response to these claims. Additionally, the court ordered the state to address the request of 53 additional displaced families from the three camps, represented by attorney Firas Assali, to join the petition. The state's supplementary response is due by November 23, 2026.

Attorney Hila Sharon of the Association for Civil Rights stated that residents have been prevented from returning home for nearly two years without a set date. She emphasized that indefinite displacement violates fundamental rights and that security considerations do not absolve the state of its duty to protect residents' rights and mitigate harm. Sharon called for a clear plan and urgent action to enable residents to return and rebuild their lives.