Israeli Supreme Court Orders State to Set Timeline for Refugee Return

The Israeli Supreme Court has mandated the state to establish a timeline for completing procedures to return displaced residents to the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams. The court also ordered an examination of ways to expedite this process, as residents have been prevented from returning to their homes since the "Iron Sword" military operation began in January 2025. This decision, issued Sunday, follows a petition filed in September 2025 by the Association for Civil Rights on behalf of displaced residents from the Jenin and Nur Shams camps, who sought permission to return home and ensure their humanitarian needs are met until then. The court further compelled the state to address claims of insufficient provision of basic necessities for the displaced and to consider the request of 53 additional families from the three camps to join the petition.

The state argued that the security situation continues to prevent residents' return, citing the necessity of ongoing military presence within the camps. In a submission to the court in August, the state indicated it is working on establishing military sites outside the camps to facilitate future troop withdrawal, but acknowledged that construction for these sites in Tulkarm and Nur Shams is in its early stages. The submission also noted a lack of progress in coordinating with the Palestinian Authority to transfer responsibility for the camps and admitted that no substantial infrastructure repairs had occurred in the four months prior. Conversely, the state asserted that the humanitarian needs of the displaced are being adequately met, with approximately 90% having found alternative housing.

The petitioners presented data, testimonies, and images documenting the plight of displaced families, gathered by international and humanitarian organizations. They stated these materials reveal severe economic hardship and the continued failure to meet basic needs. The petitioners urged the state to guarantee decent living conditions, including housing, healthcare, water, and food, and to take steps to mitigate the harm caused by their ongoing displacement.

In response, the court requested a clear response from the state regarding these claims, along with a defined plan and timeline for the return process. The court also asked the state to respond to the request of 53 additional displaced families from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps to join the legal action, with lawyer Firas Assali representing these families. A final deadline of November 23, 2026, was set for the supplementary response.

Lawyer Hila Sharon from the Association for Civil Rights stated that camp residents have been barred from returning home for nearly two years without a set date. She emphasized that indefinite displacement is a severe violation of fundamental rights, including dignity and the right to decent living conditions. Sharon stressed that security considerations do not absolve the state of its responsibility to protect residents' rights and mitigate harm, calling for an urgent, clear plan to enable the displaced to return home and rebuild their lives.