Israeli Journalists Assaulted During Ultra-Orthodox Protest Against Draft Law in Bnei Brak

On Monday evening, two Israeli journalists were violently attacked while covering a large protest by the ultra-Orthodox community against the draft law in the streets of Bnei Brak. Daniel Grobais from Kan News and Yoeli Barim, the religion reporter for News 13, arrived to report on the demonstration. During their coverage, an angry crowd surrounded them, physically assaulted them, threw objects, and poured water on them while shouting insults to prevent them from doing their journalistic work.

Faced with immediate danger to their lives, Grobais and Barim fled the scene using a rapid escape route. They sought refuge at the nearby Maayanei HaYeshua Medical Center, where they barricaded themselves inside the hospital building for an extended period, protected from the extremist rioters who continued to gather outside. Only after security forces intervened were the journalists able to be safely evacuated from the hospital grounds.

The serious incident sparked widespread condemnation across the political and media spheres, emphasizing the severity of attacks on journalists performing their duties in the field. The event highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the controversial draft law and the challenges faced by reporters covering sensitive protests.