A protest campaign opposing the arrest of Chareidim for evading military conscription has escalated, as activists erected a display in Modiin Illit labeled “Hostages Square” — invoking imagery associated with the Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza.
The installation was set up Thursday in a central traffic circle in the predominantly Chareidi city following a series of arrests of men who failed to report for draft orders. Protesters hung a large sign reading “Hostages Square,” an apparent reference to the well-known site in Tel Aviv dedicated to Israelis abducted during Hamas’ October 7 attack. Black and yellow ribbons — symbols also widely linked to the hostage campaign — were draped around the area.
At the center of the roundabout, activists placed wooden lecterns resembling shtenders. The empty shtenders appeared to mirror the empty chairs displayed in Tel Aviv as a symbol of those held in Gaza.
The campaign began several weeks ago, with black ribbons appearing in Chareidi neighborhoods in response to draft-related arrests. In recent months, protestors have increasingly adopted language and symbols associated with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which advocates for the release of those abducted by Hamas.
In October, an image circulated online showing a detained bochur wearing a yellow ribbon alongside the slogans “Until the last hostage” and “Bring them home, now.”
Some Chareidi politicians have also drawn comparisons between jailed draft evaders and hostages held by Hamas, a parallel that has sparked criticism from other sectors of Israeli society.
Meanwhile, the “Code Black” hotline — a network that mobilizes protests in response to arrests of bochurim or military police operations in Chareidi areas — issued guidance ahead of Purim. The group warned of increased police presence during festivities and urged participants to exercise caution.
The hotline cautioned against escalating routine police encounters into confrontations and warned that arrests or criminal charges could have long-term consequences, including lasting records in police databases.
If a “Code Black” alert is issued — a mass message capable of drawing hundreds of protesters within minutes — participants were instructed to “maintain composure, avoid confrontations with security forces and certainly not be dragged into violence.”
“Harm or irresponsible behavior will carry serious consequences for both the individual and the public as a whole,” the statement said.
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11 Responses
They are not equating them they are saying they were also snatched unjustly
Very, very insulting and totally inappropriate! Shameful! Really Shameful!
Gross
People should NOT compare the suffering and torture (and murder) of the hostages (and their families who waited for them) to what Israeli men experience in the army. This goes WAY too far, How dare they?
Whose side is YWN on? Cut the “evading” garbage and other slanted language.
How low can you go in Ahavas Yisroel ?
lbj, you are a hopeless fool. they are not not snatched illegally; you may not like it, but they broke the law. They can give up Israeli citizenship and live in another country
It’s astonishing to see people surprised at and even condemning this. When idolatry replaces people’s Torah hashkafa, then very weird outcomes result.
Let’s look at the Torah. The three trademarks of a Jew are shame, mercy and kindness. The wicked heretics there flagrantly violate all three. By contrast, Yishmael is a pereh adam, and Rashi notes the reason for the order of those two words.
So, it is indeed far more shocking and abnormal how the wicked heretics there abuse and harass our brethren there.
@DrYidd:
You are a seemingly hopeless Zionist. They were indeed snatched illegally. That “State” was founded only due to Agudah not protesting at the UN in return for the Zionists’ promise that the lomdei Torah would be allowed to remain Jewish and not be shmaded in the Zionist army.
The Zionists invaded there a century ago against the wishes of the Jews there. It is the Zionists who need to stop harassing the Jews and let them live as Jews and not force them to be shmaded in their army.
Enlightened yidd I said unjustly you said illegally
i guess the haters have to have their say… but not to falsify the torah! the torah only provides for THREE exemptions from the army, and wearing a black hat isn’t one of them. if these bochers are such keen scholars, why haven’t they obeyed a mitzvah d’oraita and enlisted, instead of rioting in the streets and attacking fellow jews? or do they have a different torah from other jews? or do they skip the part about moshe rabbeinu and the war with amalek? because these bochers are being taught that they are more important than moshe rabbeinu himself, who as an old man didn’t sit in his tent and daven when the children of israel fought against amalek.
@Dr… The elected Knesset introduced years ago the Tal-law, that would allow Bnei Torah to continue to learn without being drafted; it was the ILLEGAL KANGAROO COURT THAT ILLEGALLY STRUCK IT DOWN WITH NO AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER – SO YES CHAREIDIM ARE ILLEGALLY KIDNAPPED BY THE MILITARY POLICE!