Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with Israeli military over military draft
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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters attacked a military van transporting arrested draft evaders as "Israel" pushes for broader conscription amid its ongoing war on Gaza.
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Police disperse ultra-Orthodox Jews blocking a highway during a protest against military recruitment, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Tuesday, August 19, 2025 (AP Photo)
A van transporting arrested ultra-Orthodox Jewish draft evaders was attacked overnight by protesters from the same community, according to the "Israeli" military.
The incident occurred as tensions escalated within "Israel" over military conscription policies amid the ongoing war on Gaza. Protesters, opposing the arrests of draft dodgers, reportedly halted the vehicle and clashed with soldiers.
According to a military statement released late Wednesday, “several draft evaders were arrested today, tried in disciplinary proceedings and sent to military detention.”
One of the detainees managed to escape during the confrontation.
Read more: Ultra-Orthodox draft revolt exposes Israeli fractures: NYT
Mounting pressure on "Israel’s" military amid war on Gaza
Thousands of military draft notices have recently been sent to ultra-Orthodox Jews, who have historically been exempt from compulsory service. The push to end these long-standing exemptions comes amid "Israel’s" ongoing aggression against Gaza, which began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led operation.
As the war stretches into its second year, the military is under strain. Some reservists have served for hundreds of days without rotation. The demand to conscript all sectors of society is growing louder, including calls to draft ultra-Orthodox Jews who currently represent about 14% of "Israel’s" Jewish population.
Israeli media reported that the van was stopped on a roadway by dozens of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators, some of whom sat in front of the vehicle. The protesters reportedly threw stones and sprayed tear gas at the military transport, prompting a chaotic scene.
The incident underscores the cultural and ideological divide between secular and religious segments of "Israeli" society, particularly around the issue of military conscription. Roughly 66,000 ultra-Orthodox men of military age currently benefit from the exemption.
"Israel's" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is now caught between growing public pressure to enforce conscription and the political support he derives from ultra-Orthodox parties.
Efforts to amend the conscription law have been delayed, with "Israeli" media reporting that no formal debate is expected until after the Jewish holidays in mid-October. In the meantime, resistance from the ultra-Orthodox community appears to be escalating.
Read more: UN, Oxfam warn famine looms as 'Israel' shuts Gaza’s last aid crossing
Conscription reform delayed amid war on Gaza
The confrontation over conscription unfolds against the backdrop of "Israel’s" ongoing war on Gaza, which has led to the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the besieged enclave. The military’s need for personnel has never been more urgent, fueling the drive to eliminate previously protected exemptions.
While the Netanyahu government navigates growing discontent both internally and externally, the issue of military conscription could further destabilize his already fragile coalition.
Protests in Occupied Al-Quds and other areas are expected to continue as the ultra-Orthodox community pushes back against what they view as an existential threat to their way of life.
