Court ruling10/12/2026

High Court of Justice Required the IDF to Provide a Timetable for the Return of Refugee Camp Residents

The High Court of Justice partially granted the petition filed by residents of refugee camps in the northern West Bank and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. The Court agreed that, for security reasons, their return is not yet possible, but ordered the IDF to present timetables for the required measures and respond to the evacuees’ humanitarian demands.

Key facts

•Court: The Supreme Court of Israel sitting as the High Court of Justice
•Decision: The petition was partially granted
•Deadline for the IDF’s response: November 23, 2026
•The petition was filed in September 2025
•Operation “Iron Wall” began in January 2025
•The case number is not specified in the source

Why the Residents Left Their Homes

Tens of thousands of residents of the refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams left their homes during Operation “Iron Wall,” which began in January 2025. Its stated objectives were to eliminate the operational capabilities of armed organizations in northern Samaria and ensure the IDF’s permanent freedom of action. The military told the Court that the residents had not been required to leave their homes, but had decided to evacuate.

What the Petitioners Demanded

The petition was filed in September 2025 by residents of the camps and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. They argued that the fighting had run its course and demanded that they be allowed to return to their homes. Until their return, the petitioners requested that the evacuees be provided with adequate housing, basic services, and essential goods.

What the Court Decided

The Supreme Court panel, headed by Yitzhak Amit and including Justices Alex Stein and Khaled Kabub, partially granted the petition. The Court accepted the IDF’s position that the current security situation still does not permit the residents’ return. At the same time, the military must present, by November 23, 2026, timetables for completing the measures required for their return, as well as a response regarding the provision of assistance for the evacuees’ humanitarian needs.

What Measures the Military Described

The IDF stated that it needed additional time to achieve the operation’s objectives. Among the measures toward the residents’ future return, the military cited the establishment of an outpost outside the camps and an attempt to transfer civilian responsibility for the camps in which the IDF had operated to the Palestinian Authority. According to the source, this transfer has not yet taken place.

What this means for you

The decision does not grant the residents immediate permission to return to their homes and leaves open the possibility of restricting their return on security grounds. However, the IDF is required to present concrete timetables for preparations for their return and to report separately on the evacuees’ humanitarian needs. For people in a similar situation, this means that a prolonged restriction may be subject to judicial review even when the Court accepts the arguments of the security authorities.

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