Full Breakdown
Haredi Protesters Block IDF Central Command and Clash at Prison 10
7/10/2026, 11:20:13 AM
Blockade of the Central Command Headquarters
On Tuesday, Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) demonstrators sealed the gate of the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem. Video footage shows the protesters occupying part of the entrance, shouting at soldiers and refusing to allow passage. Police officers arrived and attempted to disperse the crowd while base personnel tried to clear the blockage. No official comment from the military or police had been released at the time of reporting.
Confrontation at Military Prison 10, Beit Lid
The following evening, a group of Haredi protesters gathered outside Military Prison 10 in Beit Lid, demanding the release of draft-dodgers detained there and opposing the IDF’s draft law for ultra-Orthodox men. According to the IDF, the demonstrators entered a restricted military zone, acted violently, and were forcibly removed. The incident concluded quickly, mirroring a similar breach on 22 June when protesters overwhelmed the prison’s entrance, pushed past metal barricades and clashed with soldiers.
Background: Mandatory Conscription Controversy
The protests are linked to Israel’s policy requiring mandatory military service for all citizens, including ultra-Orthodox men who have traditionally received exemptions for religious study. Recent legislative moves to enforce conscription have sparked repeated demonstrations by Haredi groups, who argue the law infringes on their religious lifestyle.
Law-Enforcement Actions and Official Silence
Police statements confirmed arrests related to earlier disruptions, including a Sunday incident in which a protester damaged a light-rail construction site and engaged in physical altercations with workers. Officers declared a public-order incident and ordered the rioters to evacuate. Apart from these procedural reports, neither the IDF nor the police have issued formal statements regarding the blockades or the prison clash.
Ongoing Tensions
The successive demonstrations underscore escalating friction between the Haredi community and Israeli security institutions over the draft law. With no official resolutions announced, the potential for further protests at military sites remains high.
