Israeli Supreme Court Orders IDF to Provide Timeline for Refugee Camp Residents' Return
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
Israel's Supreme Court has ordered the IDF to provide a timeline for the return of residents to refugee camps in northern Samaria by November 23, 2026. The court also mandated addressing humanitarian needs but accepted the IDF's security concerns preventing immediate return. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and local council heads condemned the ruling, calling it a security risk. The evacuations occurred during Operation "Defensive Shield" in early 2025.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Supreme Court ordered the IDF to present a timeline for returning refugees to their homes by November 23, 2026.
- The court accepted the IDF's security assessment that immediate return of residents is not yet possible.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and local leaders criticized the ruling as a danger to Israeli security.
- Tens of thousands were evacuated from camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams during Operation "Defensive Shield" in early 2025.
- The IDF is attempting to transfer civilian responsibility to the Palestinian Authority and build external posts.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled Sunday that the IDF must provide a timeline for completing measures that will allow residents of refugee camps in northern Samaria to return to their homes. The court also mandated that the IDF address the demand for humanitarian aid for the displaced individuals. However, the justices accepted the IDF's position that a security assessment still prevents the residents' return.
In response to the ruling, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and heads of local councils in Judea and Samaria strongly criticized the decision, claiming it endangers Israel's security. Tens of thousands of residents from refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams were evacuated during Operation "Defensive Shield," which began in January 2025. The operation aimed to dismantle armed groups in the northern West Bank and ensure ongoing freedom of operation for the IDF, following the emergence of terror hubs in these camps.
The petition, filed in September 2025 by residents and the Association for Civil Rights, argued that the fighting had concluded and demanded the return of camp residents to their homes. The petitioners also requested that the IDF provide adequate housing and essential supplies for the displaced until their return.
The IDF contended that more time was needed to achieve the operation's goals and that residents could have remained in their homes but chose to evacuate. The military also informed the court of steps taken to facilitate the residents' return, including building a post outside the camps and attempting to transfer civilian responsibility for the camps to the Palestinian Authority, an effort that has not yet succeeded.
The Supreme Court panel, led by President Yitzhak Amit and including Justices Alex Stein and Khaled Kabub, partially accepted the petition. They ordered the IDF to present a timeline for the residents' return and a response regarding humanitarian needs by November 23, 2026.
Smotrich attacked the justices, calling them irresponsible and accusing them of endangering Israel's security and aiding the rebuilding of terror infrastructure. He urged the Prime Minister and Defense Minister to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the court. Beit El Council head Shai Alon and Kedumim Council head Ozal Vatik echoed these sentiments, labeling the ruling illegal and dangerous, and calling for it to be blocked.
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