Investigators Question Injured Chareidi Protesters After Violent Bnei Brak Clashes
Israel’s Police Internal Investigations Department (Machash) began taking testimony Tuesday from chareidi protesters who allege they were assaulted by police officers during last Thursday’s demonstration near the Geha Interchange in Bnei Brak, where 24 people were reportedly injured amid violent confrontations between police and demonstrators.
The investigation follows formal complaints filed by participants in the protest, which was organized in opposition to the arrest of yeshiva bochurim over military enlistment. Demonstrators have accused police of using excessive force during the confrontation, including the deployment of stun grenades against protesters.
Several of those injured have organized a coordinated effort to pursue complaints against the officers involved. They have received legal guidance and assistance from the Fund for the Struggle Against the Draft Decree, an organization involved in demonstrations against the detention of yeshiva bochurim.
According to protest organizers, investigators responded quickly after the first complaint was submitted, contacting the complainants within 24 hours and arranging appointments to obtain their testimony.
The initial interviews began Tuesday morning at Machash offices in Tel Aviv, where protesters were questioned about the conduct of police officers during the demonstration and the circumstances surrounding their reported injuries.
The investigation comes amid a deepening confrontation between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy over the handling of demonstrations by chareidi protesters.
On Monday, Ben Gvir petitioned the High Court of Justice, seeking to overturn an interim order restricting his involvement in police decisions concerning demonstrations. In his petition, the minister made the extraordinary allegation that Levy had instructed police commanders to employ deliberately harsh tactics against chareidi protesters and had allegedly declared that he wanted to see blood.
Ben Gvir accused the commissioner of directing officers to make extensive use of batons and stun grenades, even before demonstrations began. He also alleged that police were applying harsher enforcement measures against chareidi protesters than against demonstrators from other sectors of Israeli society.
The allegations have not been established in court. Levy categorically rejected them, describing the accusations as baseless and disgraceful and insisting that police officers operate professionally and in accordance with the law.
Police have maintained that the Geha Interchange demonstration was unlawful and that officers attempted to communicate with protesters before dispersing the gathering. Authorities reported that three police officers were injured during the disturbances and that three suspects were arrested.
The Fund for the Struggle Against the Draft Decree said it intends to pursue accountability for officers accused of assaulting demonstrators and expressed hope that the prompt response from investigators would lead to meaningful action.
“We will take every measure to ensure that the officers who acted violently are brought to justice, and we hope that the swift response will continue until those responsible are held accountable,” the organization said in a statement.
The investigation remains in its initial stages, with testimony being collected from protesters who say they were injured during the confrontation.
