Legal and Bureaucratic Disputes Stall Deportation of Terrorists' Families in Israel

Nearly two years after the Israeli Knesset approved the law permitting the deportation of terrorists' families in November 2024, no family member has yet been deported. An investigative report by Amir Ettinger and Netael Bendel for ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth reveals that implementation has been stalled due to intense disagreements among the police, the State Attorney's Office, the Shin Bet security service, and the Interior Ministry.

The initiative began with Senior Inspector Udi Ronen from the Jerusalem district, who compiled a list of family members of terrorists involved in incitement offenses, aiming to request their deportation. This effort received full backing from Police Commissioner Danni Levi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and expanded into a nationwide operation by the Investigations and Intelligence Division. Despite identifying 130 cases and submitting about 55 deportation requests to the Interior Minister, the process has been effectively blocked.

Internal protocols and meeting records disclose key obstacles: Shin Bet warned that police actions lacked coordination and risked harming sensitive hostage negotiations. Legal advisors, including Deputy State Attorney Gil Limon and Police Legal Advisor Elazar Kahane, highlighted severe constitutional challenges, noting that deportation or revocation of residency requires meeting a very high legal threshold and clear criteria. There was also debate over whether the law could apply retroactively to incitement before its enactment.

A critical blow came in April 2026 when the High Court issued an interim injunction prohibiting police from proactive online monitoring of specific citizens without concrete suspicion and prosecutor approval, following petitions against the police's "Incitement Unit." Consequently, the police halted their monitoring of terrorists' families. Political complications arose after ultra-Orthodox parties left the government in July 2025, leaving the Interior Ministry without a minister authorized to order deportations. The State Attorney's Office awaits a National Security Council-led review of new legislative proposals before proceeding.

The State Attorney's Office, led by Gil Limon, has repeatedly delayed the law's activation despite no Supreme Court petitions against it. During the Knesset debates, legal officials warned of constitutional issues and requested a formal security review, which was never conducted. Initial deportation hearings were frozen after internal legal criticism and lack of Shin Bet input on potential impacts on hostage deals. The legal advisors also insisted that deportation requires prior revocation of citizenship or residency, a complex process with stringent standards.

Attempts by police and the Population and Immigration Authority to advance cases, including those involving incitement after the law's passage, were blocked by legal authorities who emphasized adherence to State Attorney guidelines. After the Interior Minister's resignation and absence of a successor, the State Attorney's Office further delayed implementation pending a review of new private member bills aimed at expanding the law.

Responses from official bodies clarify their positions: the State Attorney's Office states the Interior Minister is responsible for enforcement, but no minister has held the post since October 2025, and the law's powers have not been transferred to the Prime Minister. The police affirm their role in gathering information but note deportation authority lies solely with the Interior Minister. The Interior Ministry reports awaiting legal approval before proceeding and that many cases do not meet legal criteria. The Prime Minister's Office confirms that deportation powers have not been delegated to the Prime Minister and that the matter remains under professional and legal review.

This complex interplay of legal, security, and political factors has left the deportation law dormant, with no family members of terrorists removed from Israel to date.