Violence Erupts in Bnei Brak as Ultra-Orthodox Mob Attacks Female Soldiers

Bnei Brak, Israel – On Sunday, February 15, 2026, two female Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were chased and attacked by a mob of ultra-Orthodox men in the city of Bnei Brak, prompting condemnation from Israeli leaders and raising concerns about escalating tensions surrounding military conscription within the Haredi community. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, involved the overturning of trash cans and damage to a police vehicle as officers worked to secure the soldiers’ safety.

The Incident Unfolds

The two soldiers, squad commanders in the IDF’s Education and Youth Corps, were conducting a welfare home visit to a fellow soldier in Bnei Brak when they were confronted by the hostile crowd. Contrary to initial reports, they were not military police. Footage shows the soldiers fleeing alongside police officers as a large group of men pursued them, shouting and obstructing the street. Rioters overturned trash cans and damaged a police car during the chaotic scene. Police reported arresting 12 individuals in connection with the incident. [TPS-IL] [JPost] [Times of Israel]

Condemnation from Israeli Leadership

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly denounced the violence, stating it was an unacceptable act committed by an “extreme minority” that does not represent the broader Haredi society. [TPS-IL]

Jerusalem Faction and Anti-Conscription Sentiment

The incident occurred amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the military enlistment of yeshiva students. The Jerusalem Faction, an extremist ultra-Orthodox group with approximately 60,000 members, operates a hotline to mobilize the community when the IDF enforces conscription policies and has provided financial support to draft evaders. [Times of Israel] A spokesman for the Jerusalem Faction denied organizing the attack, claiming the rioters were “all from the mainstream” of the Haredi community. [Times of Israel]

Escalating Rhetoric and Rabbinical Influence

Experts suggest that increasingly harsh rhetoric from Haredi leaders against the military, coupled with the glorification of draft evaders, may have contributed to the hostile atmosphere. Dr. Gilad Malach of the Israel Democracy Institute noted that the rhetoric makes it “difficult to control the intensity of the situation” and that the hostile atmosphere toward the army and police encourages violence. [Times of Israel] Rabbi Dov Lando and Rabbi Moshe Maya have both made statements that critics argue incite opposition to conscription. Rabbi Maya stated that anyone arresting a draft dodger “has no portion in the world to come.” [Times of Israel]

Broader Context: Conscription and Haredi Society

The unrest stems from a 2024 High Court of Justice ruling that invalidated decades-long exemptions from military service for full-time yeshiva students. Approximately 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged 18-24 are currently eligible for military service but have not enlisted, whereas the IDF seeks 12,000 new recruits due to the ongoing war in Gaza. [Times of Israel] Protests against conscription have included highway blockades, attacks on IDF officers, and violence targeting ultra-Orthodox lawmakers. [Times of Israel]

Calls for De-escalation

Former chief Sephardic rabbi Yitzhak Yosef condemned the violence, calling for the “rioters who desecrate the Name of Heaven” to be “denounced and cast out from the community.” [TPS-IL] However, Deputy Minister Yisrael Eichler (United Torah Judaism) blamed the authorities for the incident, warning against “indiscriminate governmental violence.” [Times of Israel]