Israeli Police Mistakenly Assault Hasidic Man in Ashdod During Arrest Attempt

In Ashdod, a Hasidic man from the Gur community was mistakenly assaulted by law enforcement officers searching for a maintenance payment defaulter. The incident occurred at the intersection of Jerusalem Boulevard and Baal HaNes Street in the city's seventh district. Officers, believed to be from a unit affiliated with the Prison Service, identified the man and ordered him to stop. Because the man was considered a military service absentee, he tried to flee, prompting the officers to chase, handcuff him with both hands and feet, and use physical force that resulted in torn clothing, broken glasses, and bodily injuries.

Only after restraining him did the officers verify his identity using a police scanner and realized they had apprehended the wrong person. Eyewitnesses reported that upon recognizing the mistake, the officers removed the handcuffs, entered their vehicle, and left without identifying themselves, offering medical assistance, or leaving any contact information. The Hasidic man sustained minor injuries in the incident. This event highlights concerns about the use of force and procedural errors during law enforcement operations in Ashdod.