22-Year-Old Driver Questioned After Runover at Geha Junction Protest

Police on Friday questioned, under caution, a 22-year-old driver from Klanaswa suspected of running over a pedestrian on Thursday at Geha Junction in Bnei Brak during a Haredi anti-draft protest. Investigators say she continued driving after the incident, then turned herself in to police and later left for medical treatment. She was questioned at the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan station on suspicion of assault causing injury, several traffic violations, and causing public nuisance, and was released at the end of the interview under restrictive conditions. The investigation is continuing.

According to police, the wider protest wave by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators at several sites in central Israel led to multiple clashes. On Route 6, a female driver was seen getting out of her car with a sharp object toward protesters blocking her way, until they wrested it from her. At other locations, motorists and demonstrators were also involved in confrontations. On Route 4, police threw a stun grenade at protesters, and no injuries were reported there.

In video from Ganot Junction, the same driver was seen hitting a 21-year-old protester, who Magen David Adom said was seriously hurt. Police also said a 93-year-old man, who was not among the protesters, was run over at Geha Junction and is also in serious condition.

During questioning, the suspect gave her version of events, saying, "I was driving on Route 4, they threw stones at me, and when I kept driving I apparently hit someone." She was also referred to traffic investigators from the Tel Aviv District.