Israel Defense Minister rejects court order on West Bank displacement

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has rejected a Supreme Court order demanding that the military develop a timeline for the return of Palestinians displaced during counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank.

The court's ruling follows large-scale IDF operations launched in 2025 in the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps. These operations resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinian residents, whom the military identified as being part of terrorist hubs. While the court acknowledged that current security conditions may not yet permit a return, it mandated that the military present a formal plan and timeframe for when residents could return to their homes.

Katz argued that the IDF's presence in these areas is a permanent operational security necessity rather than a legal matter. He stated that the military presence has reduced terrorism in the West Bank by 80 percent, bringing it to its lowest historical level. Katz asserted that the court should not interfere in security decisions, comparing the mandate to interference in operations in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran, and maintained that he would not compromise on these security measures.