Overnight Raids Target Bnei Torah in Unprecedented Arrest Operations

In the early hours of Thursday morning, military police carried out a series of arrest raids in northern Israel, including attempts to detain bnei yeshiva in Kiryat Ata.

At 1:45 a.m., a yeshiva bochur was taken from his home and transferred directly to a military prison. Less than two hours later, at 3:43 a.m., police attempted to arrest another bochur at his residence—but he managed to evade capture thanks to the swift arrival of dozens of Peleg Yerushalmi protesters who blocked the arrest.

In a separate incident, military police tried to detain a ben yeshiva at his parents’ home in Be’er Sheva, but left the scene upon discovering he was not there.

According to Kan Moreshet, the IDF also apprehended five non-Chareidi deserters during the same overnight sweep—apparently in an effort to present the operation as a general enforcement action rather than one specifically targeting Chareidi draft refusers. Even so, the reality is historic and alarming: for the first time in the State’s history, lomdei Torah are being treated as criminals—pulled from their beds in the middle of the night and imprisoned for the “offense” of learning Torah.

In response, and under the direct guidance of Gedolei Yisrael, a massive atzeres tefillah is set for Thursday outside the military prison where the detained bochurim are being held. Hundreds of Roshei Yeshiva are expected to participate, standing together in protest and prayer for the honor of the Torah and the freedom of its students.