Breslov Hasidim Flee Police in West Bank, Triggering Large-Scale Search Over Kidnapping Fears

In the early hours of Thursday morning, around 10 Breslov Hasidim fled from Israeli police into the Palestinian village of Mohamas in the Binyamin region, sparking a major security operation amid fears of a kidnapping. The group escaped in a vehicle that eventually overturned and was found abandoned and heavily damaged, but the passengers were initially unaccounted for, prompting the deployment of numerous forces under a kidnapping protocol.

The incident began around 4:00 a.m. when the Hasidim reported feeling threatened inside the Palestinian village. Upon police arrival, the wrecked vehicle was discovered empty, raising concerns after communication with the occupants was lost. The Central Command declared a kidnapping alert, leading to extensive searches in and around the village.

Later, the missing individuals were located outside the village, with one Hasid recounting that after finishing talks with officers and confirming everyone was safe, they encountered two Palestinians entering the wrecked car. The group fled following a violent confrontation. Another witness explained that the Hasidim fled upon seeing a police vehicle, fearing arrest due to their status as deserters, and were later rescued by a friend in a private car.

Despite locating two of the group in Jerusalem via phone tracking, they refused to disclose the identities of other passengers, complicating the security forces' efforts and prolonging the search until the kidnapping suspicion was dismissed. Ultimately, all members were found unharmed, and the incident was clarified as a misunderstanding rather than a security threat.