Ashdod Police Detain and Assault Hasidic Man Before Admitting Mistaken Identity

A serious incident occurred on Sunday morning in Ashdod's Quarter Z, where a Hasidic man affiliated with Gur was forcibly detained by police. Witnesses reported that during the arrest, the man was beaten, handcuffed in both hands and feet, and sustained injuries. The event took place near Jerusalem Boulevard and Baal Haness Street. According to eyewitnesses who spoke to "Ashdod News," the man was asked to stop by officers but allegedly tried to move away, prompting the police to use significant force to subdue him.

Bystanders expressed shock as the police restrained the man with handcuffs and beat him severely across his body. Shortly after, the officers acknowledged that the arrest was a case of mistaken identity. The police unit, reportedly from the Prison Service (Shabas), was searching for a suspect involved in a child support case and mistakenly targeted the Hasidic man, who feared identifying himself due to concerns about being listed as a draft evader.

Instead of providing medical aid or apologizing, the officers quickly removed the handcuffs from the bleeding man, entered their vehicle, and left the scene without leaving any contact information. Witnesses condemned the police conduct, highlighting the disregard for the injured man's welfare and the lack of accountability. The police have yet to respond officially to the incident, with a statement pending.