Haredi protesters block streets near military base as ultra-Orthodox conscripts draft into IDF

Dozens of Haredi protesters are blocking streets near the Tel Hashomer military base in an attempt to prevent ultra-Orthodox conscripts from drafting into the Israel Defense Forces.

Video shows recruits being yelled at by protesters as they are escorted to the base by police officers.

תיעוד: המשטרה מנסה לפנות מהכביש מוחים מול בסיס תל השומר ביום גיוס חרדים pic.twitter.com/aoMTcWOJHw

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) April 28, 2025

הזיה של ממש. כניסה של מתגייסים חרדים דרך מפגינים שמצלמים וצועקים עליהם היא לא פחות ממחדל של הצבא. בגיוסים קןדמים מצאו לזה פתרונות כמו התייצבות במקום אחר והסעה לתוך הבקו"ם. התנהלות שגויה ובעייתית מאד. pic.twitter.com/J4bka2A1nd

— שילה פריד???????? (@shilofreid) April 28, 2025

The army has stated that it is facing a manpower shortage and currently needs some 12,000 new soldiers — 7,000 of whom would be combat troops.

Currently, approximately 70,000 Haredi men between the ages of 18 and 24 are eligible for military service and have not enlisted. According to the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, only 2 percent of the 10,000 ultra-Orthodox men sent conscription orders from July 2024 to March 2025 have actually joined the armed forces.

In total, 1,721 Haredim have joined the army since the beginning of the current recruitment cycle last year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are pushing for the passage of legislation enshrining military exemptions for yeshiva students and other members of the Haredi community.