Israeli Supreme Court Suspends Law Blocking Citizenship for Terrorists' Relatives

On the eve of the implementation of the "Shir Hajaj Law," the Israeli Supreme Court temporarily suspended a key provision that prevents relatives of terrorists from obtaining Israeli citizenship, residency permits, or visas through family reunification. The law, promoted by Knesset member Amit Halevi and enacted on July 9, 2025, aimed to enhance deterrence by denying legal status to family members of convicted terrorists or those involved in security offenses.

The Population and Immigration Authority and security agencies had prepared to enforce the law starting August 1, but Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez issued an interim injunction a day before enforcement. The court cited concerns that applying the provision could cause irreversible harm to the human rights of the terrorists' relatives. This suspension means the absolute ban on granting status to these relatives will not take effect immediately, pending a broader hearing scheduled for November.

Knesset member Amit Halevi strongly criticized the court's decision, arguing it endangers Israeli citizens' security and undermines a critical deterrent tool. He emphasized that most convicted terrorists or their families gained status in Israel through family reunification with Palestinian Authority residents. Halevi called the ruling "a tragic and disconnected decision" that weakens Israel's protective measures and vowed to continue fighting for the law's full implementation.