Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Riot Outside Prison Over Draft Dodger's Detention

On the evening of July 20, dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters affiliated with the Gur Hasidic sect violently rioted outside Prison 10 in Israel. The demonstrators attempted to dismantle and topple a fence surrounding the facility. The protest was organized in response to the imprisonment of a Gur Hasidic draft dodger who was sentenced to 20 days in jail after arriving at the military recruitment office to arrange an exemption.

The Gur community mobilized extensively, with around 200 buses transporting thousands of supporters from across the country to participate in a large rally planned at the prison. The Gur Rebbe is also expected to attend the gathering, continuing his involvement following a similar protest weeks earlier over another draft dodger's arrest.

Despite official instructions from the Gur leadership urging protesters to avoid violence, footage from the scene showed aggressive behavior and attempts to break the prison fence. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between ultra-Orthodox groups and Israeli military conscription policies.