Istanbul / Khalid Yusuf / Anadolu

Haredi Jewish protesters on Monday demolished parts of the fence surrounding a military prison in central Israel during a protest attended by more than 2,000 people demanding the release of a draft dodger, according to Hebrew media.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the protesters caused disturbances outside Prison 10 near the city of Kfar Yona before demolishing parts of its surrounding fence.

Prison 10 is a military prison located near Kfar Yona in central Israel, used to detain soldiers and those wanted for military service, including draft dodgers.

The channel added that most of the participants belong to the extremist Hasidic Gur movement, and they protested the arrest of one of its followers and his 20-day prison sentence for evading conscription.

The Hasidic movement is one of the most prominent religious currents within the Haredi community, whose followers adhere to strict religious interpretations and oppose military service, claiming they need to devote themselves to religious study.

The protest was led by resigned Minister of Construction and Housing and United Torah Judaism party leader Isaac Goldknopf, along with the rabbi of the Gur sect, according to the Israel Broadcasting Authority.

The channel reported that about 200 buses transported the protesters from various areas in Israel to the prison vicinity.

It added that police allowed the protesters to enter the area inside the prison fence without intervening to disperse them or confront them.

The Haredim continue their protests against military service since the Israeli Supreme Court's decision in June 2024 to mandate their conscription and halt financial aid to religious institutions whose students refuse to serve.

In late April 2026, dozens of Haredim stormed the courtyard of the home of Military Police Chief Brigadier General Yuval Yamin in the city of Ashkelon, southern Israel, protesting the arrest of draft dodgers.

The dispute over Haredi conscription intensifies amid the ongoing call-up of reserve soldiers, with continued escalation on several fronts, including the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iran, and the occupied West Bank.

The Haredim make up about 13 percent of Israel's population, which exceeds 10 million, and most refuse military service, claiming they need to devote themselves to Torah study, believing that integration into secular society threatens their religious identity.

For decades, members of the community have received repeated deferrals from conscription on the grounds of studying in religious seminaries, until reaching the current exemption age of 26.