Thousands of Gur Hasidim Protest Military Draft Detentions at Beit Lid Prison

On the evening of July 20, thousands of members of the Gur Hasidic community gathered for the second time in weeks outside the Beit Lid military prison (Prison 10) in Kfar Yona to protest the detention of draft evaders. The event was led by Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, the Gur Rebbe and head of Israel's largest Hasidic sect, who is also a dominant figure in the Agudat Yisrael Council of Torah Sages. Some protesters attempted to dismantle and push against the prison fences, with police confirming attempts to breach the military prison.

The protest was sparked by the sentencing of a young Gur Hasid to 20 days in jail for refusing to comply with military draft orders. Prior to the demonstration, the community warned that if the detainee was not released, protests would spread nationwide. The rally began with evening prayers led by senior Hasidic figure Moti Babchik and included speeches condemning secular lawmakers and judges for disrespecting Torah scholars and threatening the Torah itself.

The protest caused significant disruption in the surrounding area, including blocking access to the Givat Alonim neighborhood in Kfar Yona via Highway 57. Residents expressed frustration over the repeated closures and reported that some protesters wandered through the neighborhood, causing disturbances. Local officials criticized the approval of the protest, calling it reckless and disruptive.

In addition to the main protest at Beit Lid, a group of demonstrators also gathered outside the home of State Attorney Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv. Concurrently, police reported disturbances in Jerusalem neighborhoods including Bar Ilan, Haim Bar-Lev Boulevard, and Beit Shemesh, where protesters threw objects, blocked roads, and resisted police orders.

Yehuda Glick, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party, attended the Beit Lid protest and urged the crowd to maintain order and avoid provocations. Israel Beytenu condemned the protests, describing them as attempts by draft evaders to breach a military base and undermine law enforcement. Police efforts continued to restore order and clear blocked routes.

The protests highlight ongoing tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and the Israeli military over conscription policies, with the Gur sect playing a leading role in opposing mandatory service for their members.