Inside the battle that froze Israel’s law to deport terrorists’ relatives

Nearly two years after Israel passed a law in November 2024 allowing the deportation of terrorists' relatives who knew about or supported attacks, no one has been deported due to an ongoing institutional battle. Internal documents reveal disagreements between the police, Attorney General’s Office, Interior Ministry, and Shin Bet regarding implementation. Police compiled a nationwide list of 130 cases, submitting 55 requests to the Interior Ministry, but none resulted in deportation.

• The Shin Bet warned that uncoordinated deportations could harm sensitive security priorities, including hostage deals.
• Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon criticized the process, citing constitutional problems like retroactive enforcement and the potential for deportation based on speech not meeting criminal thresholds.
• The process was further complicated by the Interior Minister's resignation in July 2025, leaving no authorized official to approve deportation orders.
• A Supreme Court ruling temporarily barred police from proactively monitoring individuals for incitement without prosecutorial approval, impacting the police's method for identifying potential cases.

The law remains on the books but unused, with authorities trading responsibility for its non-implementation.