Thousands of Bnei Torah converged Thursday night outside the Beit Lid military prison, protesting the continued imprisonment of yeshiva bochurim who refused to bow to the government’s renewed draft decrees.

The demonstration, called for and attended by HaRav Dov Landau shlit”a, came at the climax of a week of demonstrations against the army’s escalating campaign to drag bochurim away from the daled amos shel halacha and into the barracks. Rav Landau had personally visited two of the imprisoned bochurim last week, telling them, “The entire olam haTorah stands behind you. Be strong, and hold firm.”

Groups from Peleg Yerushalmi, Slonim chassidim, and other kehillos broke through police barricades before being pushed back by riot units. Some burned and tore up draft orders, while others sang and danced while shouting cries of “Gevalt!” and “We won’t give up even one bochur!”

Banners and shouts from the crowd made clear the protest’s purpose: “No quotas, no sanctions!” and “Free the hostages!” — a reference not to captives in Gaza, but to the imprisoned bochurim.

Some protesters even appealed to President Trump to “save us from the State of Israel” and its draft decrees.

The protest comes after the IDF issued 54,000 draft notices in July alone, following a High Court ruling striking down long-standing deferments for lomdei Torah. Around 80,000 bochurim between 18 and 24 are officially “draft-eligible,” but gedolim warn that any form of enlistment is a spiritual gezeirah that would uproot their way of life.

MK Moshe Gafni declared earlier in the day that the campaign “is reminiscent of the Romans who sought to prevent Am Yisroel from learning Torah. We will fight with all our strength.” MK Meir Porush warned that the situation could deteriorate into a “civil war” if the government pushes forward without protecting the Torah world.

Local residents complained of nightly marches, shofar blasts, and shouting in the streets. By 10:30 p.m., as the first crowd dispersed, new groups — including more Slonim chassidim — arrived, reigniting confrontations with police into the late hours.

The government insists it needs 12,000 more soldiers immediately, citing the ongoing war in Gaza and security challenges.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)