Ashdod Police Admit Mistaken Arrest of Hasidic Man but Cite Refusal to Identify

In Ashdod on the morning of the incident, police mistakenly detained a Hasidic man from the Gur community, using force during the arrest. The police later apologized to the man after realizing the error. A senior police official told Kikar HaShabbat that the entire incident could have been avoided if the man had immediately identified himself to the officers. The official emphasized that refusal to identify oneself to police is illegal and justifies detention.

The police operation was part of an enforcement action under a court order to locate an individual against whom a warrant had been issued. The officers mistakenly identified the Hasidic man as the wanted individual. Eyewitnesses described the arrest as violent, with the man being handcuffed, beaten, having his glasses broken, and his pants torn. The police community officer and other officers later spoke with the man following the apology.

This event adds to recent tensions between the police and the ultra-Orthodox community, following several incidents of police violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters in recent weeks. Despite public outcry and promises from ultra-Orthodox Knesset members to address the issue, no substantive parliamentary discussion has occurred. Last week, the Ashdod Magistrate's Court rejected a lawsuit against three officers for detention and arrest, ruling their actions lawful and ordering the plaintiff to pay court costs of 7,500 shekels.