Two female IDF soldiers were pulled to safety Sunday afternoon after a hostile crowd in Bnei Brak surrounded and attacked them while they were carrying out duties in the city. The confrontation triggered strong condemnations from across the political spectrum, as well as from senior military and law enforcement officials.

According to reports, the soldiers, who serve in the Military Police, had arrived in Bnei Brak to place draft notices in mailboxes. They were met by an enraged group that shouted insults, including branding them “Nazis,” and made attempts to assault them.

Witnesses said a gathering of chareidi bystanders quickly formed, chanting “Nazis” and pressing toward the soldiers. There were also reported efforts to physically harm them. During the unrest, a police motorcycle was set ablaze, and rioters overturned a police van.

Police units rushed to the area and succeeded in extracting the soldiers without injury.

In an official update, police said the two female soldiers had come to the city as part of welfare-related activities connected to their IDF service. Officers evacuated them from the scene as several agitators confronted police and hurled garbage bins into the path of the responding vehicle.

Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz commented: “This is a moral low that has nothing to do with Judaism. The police must enforce the full weight of the law against the perpetrators, and members of the coalition-especially leaders of the haredi community-must strongly condemn this outrageous incident before a disaster happens here.”

Chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, MK Avigdor Liberman, said: “What is happening in Bnei Brak is a national disgrace. Anyone who raises a hand against IDF soldiers, male or female, must know that the law will be enforced to the fullest. The excuses are over. Governance must be restored immediately.”

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that, “female IDF soldiers being attacked in broad daylight in Bnei Brak is. A bright red line has been crossed here. We will not allow anyone to harm our soldiers.”

The IDF reported that Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, strongly condemns the attack on IDF female soldiers who were carrying out a military mission earlier today in Bnei Brak. Any harm to IDF soldiers by Israeli civilians is a serious crossing of a red line, and action must be taken against the attackers with a firm hand. Lt.Gen. Zamir expects the law to be fully enforced against the perpetrators.”

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu “strongly condemned” the attack.

“I strongly condemn the violent riots in Bnei Brak against IDF female soldiers and Israeli police officers,” he says in a statement. “This is an extreme minority that does not represent the entire chareidi community.”

He called the attack “a serious matter and completely unacceptable.”

“We will not allow anarchy,” he promised, adding that “we will not tolerate any harm to IDF personnel and security forces who carry out their work with dedication and determination.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz also “strongly condemned” the attack.

“I strongly condemn the violent attack against IDF female soldiers in Bnei Brak by a handful of rioters,” Katz said in a statement.

“Anyone who raises a hand against the security forces, against the soldiers of the IDF, and against Israel Police officers, crosses a red line. Violence against those serving in uniform is a criminal act in every respect, not protest,” he said.

Katz said he calls on chareidi community leaders “to denounce the [attack],” and for law enforcement to “act decisively and bring to justice everyone who took part in the severe attack.”

“The State of Israel will not allow harm to the security forces and will not turn a blind eye to violence of any kind,” he adds.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared that members of the mob involved in the assault “will pay a heavy price,” while stressing they do not reflect the “vast majority of the Haredi public.” He noted that one police officer was injured during the clashes.

There have been no reports of any arrests.

“I strongly condemn the small group of violent anarchists who attacked female soldiers, injured police officers, and set fire to a police motorcycle in Bnei Brak. These are grave, criminal, and unforgivable acts. Anyone who raises a hand against IDF soldiers or Israel Police officers will pay a heavy price,” says Ben Gvir in a statement.

“At the same time, it is important for me to clarify: This does not represent the chareidi community as a whole. The vast majority of the chareidi public is law-abiding, respects the security forces, and took no part in this violence. We must not allow an extremist fringe to stain an entire community,” he asserts, sending his best wishes to the soldiers and the police officer who was wounded defending them.

Authorities have not released further information regarding the condition of the injured officer.

{Matzav.com}