Tomorrow, Monday, 10 November 2025, at 12:30 p.m Israeli Supreme Court to Hear Petition against the Anti-UNRWA Laws
Tomorrow, Monday, 10 November 2025, at 12:30 p.m., the Israeli Supreme Court will hold a hearing on a petition filed by Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel on behalf of Palestinian refugees, Adalah, and Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, challenging two Israeli laws designed to obstruct the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).
On 28 October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed two laws with three main components. First, they immediately nullified the 1967 Cooperation Agreement between Israel and UNRWA, which had enabled the Agency’s operations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Second, the laws prohibit all communication and coordination between Israeli authorities and UNRWA officials. Third, they terminate all UNRWA activities within the territory Israel defines as its own, including illegally annexed and occupied East Jerusalem.
CLICK HERE to read an English summary of the petition
CLICK HERE to read the petition in Hebrew
CLICK HERE for an unofficial translation of the laws
CLICK HERE to read an Unofficial translation by Adalah of excerpts from the State’s response to the petition.
The hearing will take place before Supreme Court Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit, Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, and Justice David Mintz.
In the petition, filed on 16 January 2025, the petitioners argue that the implementation of these laws, which seek to unilaterally strip Palestinians from their refugee status, will cause severe harm to the fundamental rights of many refugees, including the rights to dignity, education, property, health, and livelihood. The petition further maintains that the legislation constitutes a violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power, including its duty to prioritize the welfare of the local population in the occupied territory as a central consideration when exercising its authority. Adalah’s Legal Director, Dr. Suhad Bishara, submitted the petition on behalf of the organizations and the refugee families.
On 29 January 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the organizations’ request for an interim injunction filed with the petition. In her decision, Justice Barak-Erez noted the respondents’ claim that “measures have been taken and are being taken to prepare in advance to address the difficulties raised,” despite the absence of any viable or professional alternatives to UNRWA’s essential humanitarian infrastructure in the occupied territory.
The hearing comes just two weeks after the ICJ issued its Advisory Opinion on 22 October 2025, concluding that Israel is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA. The ICJ further held that Israel, as an occupying power, must refrain from impeding the operations of UNRWA and other UN‑organisations in and in relation to the OPT.
CLICK HERE to read UNRWA’s key conclusions re: the ICJ Advisory Opinion.
As UNRWA notes: “It [the ICJ] resoundingly supports UNRWA’s mandate and continued operations in the OPT. The Court found that, as the Occupying Power, Israel is obliged to lift restrictions on UNRWA’s operations and agree to and facilitate relief provided by the Agency. The opinion also recognizes the unique and sustained connection between UNRWA’s mandate and the realization of human rights for the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination. These rights underpin and reinforce Israel’s obligations to respect the mandate, status, privileges and immunities of UNRWA in the OPT.”
Date: Monday, 10 November 2025
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Supreme Court, Jerusalem — see Google Maps location here
Adalah Comms Team will be on-site to handle media queries. Tom Mehager, +972-52-4366355
Case Citation: HCJ 41922-01-25 Shaher Alqam et al. v. The Knesset et al.
Related Press Releases:
Palestinian Refugees Petition Supreme Court Against Israeli Laws Aimed at Shutting Down UNRWA 16/01/2025
