Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Palestinians displaced from refugee camps in the occupied West Bank will not be permitted to return, openly rejecting a recent decision by Israel's Supreme Court.
The comments came after the court ordered the military to organise the return of residents displaced from the refugee camps of Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm during Israeli military operations launched in 2025.
Netanyahu dismisses return order
Speaking in a recorded statement near the Tulkarm refugee camp, Netanyahu described the area as a "terrorist stronghold" and praised the Israeli military for what he called its clearance operations.
"I heard that someone in the Supreme Court said the residents should return here. They are not residents, they are terrorists," Netanyahu said.
It was not immediately clear whether he was referring only to Tulkarm or to all three camps covered by the court ruling.
Tens of thousands displaced
Since January 2025, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from the refugee camps in Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm following large-scale Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank.
The Israeli military has said the operations were aimed at dismantling armed militant infrastructure operating in the area. Most of those displaced have been unable to return to their homes.
Warning to Israel's opponents
Netanyahu also reiterated Israel's security position in the territory, declaring that Israel would remain "the guardian from the Jordan River to the sea".
He concluded with a warning to Israel's adversaries:
"I want to warn our enemies that we are prepared for every scenario."
The remarks are likely to intensify debate over the authority of the Supreme Court and the future of displaced Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Source: CNA
