Thousands of Gur Hasidim Protest at Military Prison 10 Over Yeshiva Student's Arrest

On the evening of July 20, 2026, thousands of Gur Hasidim gathered at the gates of Military Prison 10 in Israel to protest the arrest of Israel Reuven Fein, a student of the "Sfat Emet" yeshiva. The protest was led by the Gur Rebbe and organized following a call from the yeshiva director, Rabbi Itche Meir Tauman, who urged the community to demonstrate against what they described as an affront to Torah and divine honor.

Fein's arrest stems from complications with his military conscription status. According to Gur sources, Fein appeared three times at recruitment offices attempting to regularize his status. Initially, he mistakenly went to the Jerusalem recruitment office instead of Haifa, and after being sent twice to return at later dates, he was ultimately classified as a draft dodger when two days passed beyond his original enlistment date.

The protest at Prison 10 saw significant crowding and tensions at the base entrance, leading to clashes between some protesters and police forces. Video footage showed a gate at the entrance being dismantled and Gur Hasidim moving into adjacent external areas as police tried to regain control. Efforts to calm the situation were made by community figures including Moti Babchik and Yedidut Torah chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf, who engaged with both police and protesters.

This demonstration marks the second large-scale protest by the Gur community at Prison 10 within a month, both focused on the detention of yeshiva students. Previous protests similarly involved thousands of participants praying and reciting Psalms to demand the release of detained students.

The situation remains tense as the community continues to oppose the arrests, highlighting ongoing friction between ultra-Orthodox groups and Israeli military conscription policies.