Israeli Defense Minister rejects Supreme Court call to expedite return of West Bank refugee camp residents

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the Supreme Court's call to expedite the return of residents to Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps. Katz stated that the IDF's continued presence in the camps is an operational-security issue necessary to protect Israeli soldiers and civilians from "serious threats and the activity of external jihadist elements supported by Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, aimed at promoting terror activity in the style of October 7th." He asserted it is not the Supreme Court's place to intervene in security considerations, comparing it to operations in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran. Katz said he will not compromise on this issue "even if it requires special legislative procedures in the Knesset."