Israeli Supreme Court Orders Timeline for Return of Displaced Camp Residents

The Israeli Supreme Court has ordered the state to present a clear timeline for completing the necessary steps to allow residents of the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams refugee camps to return to their homes. The court also requested an examination of ways to expedite this return, which has been blocked for nearly two years since the military operation known as "Iron Shield" began in January 2025. The decision came after a petition filed in September 2025 by the Association for Civil Rights on behalf of displaced residents from the Jenin and Nur al-Shams camps, demanding their return and the fulfillment of their humanitarian needs.

In its defense, the state had previously argued to the court in August that the security situation still prevents residents' return and that the continued presence of Israeli forces within the camps is necessary. While acknowledging efforts to establish military sites outside the camps for future troop relocation, the state admitted that work on planned sites in Tulkarm and Nur al-Shams is in its early stages. Progress on coordinating with the Palestinian Authority for responsibility transfer has been minimal, and no significant infrastructure repairs have occurred in the preceding four months.

However, UN data highlights the extensive damage to the camps, with large parts becoming sparsely populated. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported in September that Israeli forces forcibly displaced all residents of the three camps in January and February 2025 and continues to prevent their return. By October 2025, approximately 52% of buildings in Jenin camp, 48% in Nur al-Shams, and 36% in Tulkarm were destroyed or damaged, affecting infrastructure, water, and electricity networks.

The displacement has also impacted education, with over 4,000 students from northern West Bank camps experiencing disrupted schooling. Four UNRWA school buildings in Jenin remain inaccessible, forcing around 1,600 students into temporary alternative locations. Two school buildings in Nur al-Shams are also inaccessible, while UNRWA schools near Tulkarm are accommodating about 2,300 students from six schools in Tulkarm and Nur al-Shams camps.

Petitioners cited international and humanitarian data, along with photographic evidence and resident testimonies, to underscore ongoing economic hardship and unmet basic needs. They emphasized the occupation authorities' responsibility to ensure decent living conditions, including housing, healthcare, water, and food, and to minimize the harm caused by displacement. The court ordered the state to respond clearly to these facts and to a request from 53 additional displaced families to join the petition, setting November 23 as the deadline for a supplementary response.

Attorney Hila Sharon of the Association for Civil Rights stated that residents have been prevented from returning home for two years without a set date, calling the indefinite displacement a severe violation of their basic rights. She stressed that security considerations do not absolve the state of its duty to protect their rights and mitigate harm, urging for a clear plan and urgent action to enable their return and rebuilding of their lives.