All 28 individuals arrested Sunday in Bnei Brak following clashes with female Israeli soldiers have been released from custody, with seven facing restrictions of house arrest, according to reports from The Times of Israel and the BBC.
The arrests stemmed from an incident in which hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men confronted and chased two female soldiers who were reportedly in the city. Israel Police intervened to rescue the soldiers, as detailed by The Jerusalem Post. The confrontation occurred in the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak.
Of those released, three adults and four teenagers will be held under house arrest, the Times of Israel reported. The court’s decision to release the majority of those detained, even with some restrictions, has not been publicly explained.
The incident has drawn attention to tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and the Israel Defense Forces, particularly regarding the presence of female soldiers in areas where strict religious observance dictates limited interaction with women. Middle East Eye reported on the initial chase, highlighting the scale of the confrontation.
No injuries to the soldiers were reported in initial accounts. The circumstances that led to the soldiers being in Bnei Brak, and the specific nature of their mission, have not been disclosed by the IDF.
As of Monday afternoon, no statement has been issued by the IDF regarding the incident or the release of those arrested. The Bnei Brak municipality has also remained silent on the matter.