Netanyahu rejects return of Palestinians displaced from Tulkarm camp

Netanyahu made the statement in a video filmed near Tulkarm refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. He called the camp a “terror stronghold” and praised the army for clearing it under government directives. [1][2]

The statement followed an order from Israel’s Supreme Court requiring the government to provide a timetable for displaced residents’ return. Netanyahu rejected that outcome and said the residents should not be brought back. [1][2]

The reported displacement began in January 2025, when Israeli forces launched operations in the Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm camps. Israel said those operations aimed to dismantle militant infrastructure. [1][2]

The reporting says tens of thousands of Palestinian residents were evacuated from the three camps and have largely been unable to return. It does not specify how many people are from Tulkarm alone or where each displaced family is currently staying. [1][2]

Netanyahu characterized the residents as terrorists rather than civilians, while the court order described in the reporting requires a timetable for return. The available material does not explain the order’s full legal reasoning or its enforcement status. [2]