Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Petition Against Mass Demolitions in Nur Shams and Tulkarem Refugee Camps in the Occupied West Bank
Today, 9 May 2025, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected Adalah’s petition demanding the immediate cancellation of demolition orders issued by the Israeli military targeting over 100 homes and civilian structures in the Nur Shams and Tulkarem Palestinian refugee camps in the occupied West Bank. The Court dismissed the petition without holding a hearing and denied a request for an interim injunction to halt the demolitions, uncritically adopting the military’s justification without scrutiny.
According to demolition orders issued by the military, approximately 58 buildings in the Tulkarem camp and 47 buildings in the Nur Shams camp have been slated for demolition. The military already demolished several buildings in Nur Shams on 6 May 2025.
Click here to read the Supreme Court’s decision in Hebrew
Click here to read more about Adalah’s petition
Case Citation: HCJ 12276-05-25 Adalah v. Minister of Defense
In the petition, Adalah argued that the demolition orders violated fundamental rights under both Israeli administrative law and international law. The residents, who were displaced and reside in temporary shelters outside the refugee camps, were not given notice or a meaningful opportunity to contest the demolitions, and were therefore denied due process. The widespread destruction amounts to a violation of the rights to property, shelter, and dignity, and constitutes the forcible transfer of a protected population, prohibited under international law. Adalah further argued that the military’s claim that the demolitions upheld “public order” does not meet the conditions of “absolute military necessity.”
In a preliminary decision issued on 6 May, the Court already accepted the state’s position that the demolitions were mandated for “clear military purposes,” and declined to issue an interim order to halt the demolitions.
In its 7 May response to the petition, the respondents – the Defense Minister and the Israeli Military Commander in the West Bank – reiterated prior claims that the refugee camps had become combat zones due to alleged “terrorist infrastructure” within them. The military further argued that it was necessary to “reconfigure the space” to allow for access to armored vehicles within the camps. The state also cited a recent Supreme Court ruling approving similar mass demolitions in the Jenin refugee camp.
Click here to read the state’s response in Hebrew
The Supreme Court’s final ruling adopted the military’s reasoning in full, emphasizing the discretion granted to the Military Commander and his expertise in operational matters. The Court further stated that the military had sufficiently respected the right to be heard.
Dr. Suhad Bishara, Adalah’s Legal Director, commented:
“In rejecting the petition without even holding a hearing, and by granting the military unchecked authority to carry out mass demolitions in Palestinian refugee camps, the Israeli Supreme Court is once again endorsing grave violations of IHL that can amount to war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation authorities. By accepting the army’s vague claim that it needs more space to continue its assaults, without demanding a shred of evidence, the Court has not only legitimized the military’s sweeping powers, but also its relentless violent campaign against Palestinian refugees. There is no judicial oversight, no scrutiny, and no accountability.”
