Full Breakdown
High Court Confronts Failed Attempt to Return Palestinian Family to Jalud
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Court Order and Attempted Return
On September 6, Israel’s High Court of Justice ordered authorities to coordinate the return of three Palestinian petitioners from Jalud, a West Bank village south of Nablus, within 14 days, to provide security and restore water, electricity and access to the homes. The state’s deadline was meant to enable the Tubasi family to move back while repairs were carried out. The attempted return occurred on the night of September 28-29, when the family entered the two houses under the protection of Border Police officers.
02
Attack and Aftermath
More than 100 Israeli extremists gathered, stone-throwing at the residents and the officers. Three Border Police officers were wounded, and the two houses were set ablaze, rendering them unsuitable for immediate habitation. The petitioners later reported broken windows, damaged doors and destroyed electrical connections. A subsequent fire on October 24 damaged a third petitioner’s house (Tawfiq Shweiki’s); responsibility for that blaze remains disputed. The state’s October 8 response noted that officers had shielded the family with their bodies after exhausting crowd-control ammunition.
03
Official Statements & Responses
State attorney Avi Milikovsky acknowledged the operation’s failure but rejected claims of indifference to the court order, emphasizing that officers had risked themselves to protect the residents. He said the homes were now burned and unsuitable for immediate return and proposed a supplementary written response to the court. Justice Dafna Barak-Erez stressed that protection is integral to any return, questioning why fire engines could not be deployed to the Area B location. Justice Isaac Amit closed the hearing, indicating that a decision on contempt sanctions—petitioners seek a daily fine of NIS 50,000—will follow.
04
Verbatim Quotes
- “Sometimes, even when time is needed, there is no time,” — Justice Dafna Barak-Erez
- “If soldiers can be there, fire engines can be there too,” — Justice Dafna Barak-Erez