Israeli MKs Criticize Supreme Court Hearing on UNRWA Laws as Support for Hamas

On Monday, the Israeli Supreme Court held hearings on petitions filed by human rights organizations on behalf of Palestinian refugees challenging laws related to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, recently approved by the Knesset. The session included participation from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Knesset members Boaz Bismut, Tali Gottlieb, and Yulia Malinovsky.

Outside the courtroom, MK Boaz Bismut, who co-initiated the UNRWA laws, strongly condemned the hearing, calling it a disgrace. He referenced the murder of Yonatan Samarnu, whose body was dragged into Gaza by a UNRWA employee, and linked the legislation to UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7 attacks. Bismut questioned the Supreme Court's authority to review a law that had broad consensus in the Knesset and accused the court of acting as Hamas's defender.

MK Tali Gottlieb also sharply criticized the Supreme Court, labeling it a "high court for terrorists" and accusing it of entertaining petitions based on "130 pages of lies and defamation" aimed at overturning Knesset legislation. She argued that the court was overstepping by intervening in political matters already decided by the government and legislature. Gottlieb warned that the hearing legitimizes petitions that harm Israel's international standing and expressed frustration that bereaved families affected by UNRWA employees must seek permission to join the legal process.

Both lawmakers expressed skepticism that the Supreme Court would annul the UNRWA laws but cautioned against the precedent set by repeated legal challenges. The hearing reflects ongoing tensions between Israel's judiciary and lawmakers over security-related legislation and the role of UNRWA in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.