A Belzer yungerman was arrested in Kiryat Gat on Friday afternoon, just hours before Shabbos, on allegations of draft evasion, setting off protests, sharp criticism from Belz erleaders, and an immediate investigation ordered by Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy.

The yungerman was detained by police and is currently being held at the police station on Sderot Lachish in Kiryat Gat.

According to eyewitnesses, the arrest occurred after the yungerman approached police officers in an effort to assist them during a gathering that had developed in the area. Witnesses claim that despite his attempt to help, officers subsequently sought to transfer him to the Military Police due to his alleged status as a draft evader.

Following the arrest, the “Tzeva Shachor” protest alert network, which mobilizes demonstrations in response to the detention of bnei yeshiva and yungeleit, called on members of the public to gather at the scene and protest in an effort to prevent his transfer to military authorities.

The arrest drew an angry response from within the Belzer community. A source in the chassidus harshly criticized the move, saying, “Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has lost his bearings. There are hundreds in Belz who enlist. If this young man is not released, they will all be returning home on Sunday.”

The unusually strong statement comes amid heightened sensitivity surrounding relations between the chareidi community and both the police and military, particularly regarding the detention of bnei yeshiva and yungerleit classified as draft evaders.

The current incident has generated particular outrage because, according to eyewitness accounts, the yungerman was not participating in any confrontation with law enforcement. Rather, they say, he approached officers in an effort to assist them during an event taking place in the city.

The controversy also comes one day after a report on Channel 12 News revealed that police are formulating a new policy for handling chareidi draft evaders in an effort to reduce tensions with the chareidi public.

Under the proposed framework, a chareidi draft evader who voluntarily enters a police station to file a complaint, report a missing person, or receive police services would not be detained or transferred to the Military Police.

However, if a police officer encounters a draft evader during a routine traffic stop, at a checkpoint, or in another incidental encounter, the individual would still be detained and transferred to military authorities under existing procedures.

Supporters of the detained yungerman argue that his case falls outside the category of routine enforcement, maintaining that he approached officers of his own accord to assist them and should not have been treated as someone attempting to evade authorities.

Representatives of the chassidus warned that failure to release the yungerman could lead to a significant deterioration in relations between the chareidi community and law enforcement as early as next week.

As the controversy intensified, Commissioner Daniel Levy instructed police officials to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the young chareidi man’s detention. The review was ordered following claims that the yungerman was arrested despite having approached officers to assist them during an incident in the city, rather than as part of any confrontation with police or attempt to avoid law enforcement authorities.

According to reports, the commissioner also directed that the full chain of events leading to the arrest be examined in light of the conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.