Protests over the arrest and planned transfer of yeshiva students to military authorities intensified Wednesday afternoon after the Eidah Hachareidis took the unusual step of ordering all of its kollelim closed and directing its members to join demonstrations taking place across Israel.

In a statement issued on behalf of the members of the Eidah Hachareidis Badatz, headed by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, the organization called on the public to take part in what it described as a determined campaign against the authorities’ efforts to transfer yeshiva students and avreichim to military prisons.

The statement declared that “in light of the authorities’ attempt to hand over dozens of bochurim and avreichim to military prison, every individual is obligated to participate in protests and an all-out battle with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country in order to stop the destruction.”

Following the directive, all Eidah Hachareidis kollelim reportedly suspended learning activities, and large numbers of avreichim joined demonstrations already underway in several locations, including Yerushalayim.

The protests began earlier in the day, led primarily by members of Peleg Yerushalmi, with demonstrations taking place near the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim and in the Abu Kabir area.

The immediate catalyst for the protests was the decision by authorities to transfer 19 yeshiva bochurim arrested during the disturbances outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg to military custody.

According to notices distributed by Peleg Yerushalmi organizers, demonstrations were held simultaneously at four major locations: near Nitzan Prison in Ramle for residents of Beit Shemesh and southern Israel; at the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim; near Hadarim Prison along Route 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya for residents of the north and Sharon region; and in the Abu Kabir area for participants from Bnei Brak and central Israel.

In Yerushalayim, confrontations broke out between demonstrators and police. Protesters accused officers of using excessive force to disperse crowds, including the deployment of stun grenades.

Police, however, said demonstrators attacked officers, threw objects, and refused repeated orders to disperse.

In a statement, police said, “Police forces, together with Border Police, riot-control units and special operations personnel, acted to clear the roads and push back those involved in the disturbances, using crowd-control measures including stun grenades and mounted police. Forces continue to operate in the area in order to restore order and keep major traffic routes open.”

The latest protests follow last week’s demonstration outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, when dozens of protesters gathered outside the residence, smashed windows, damaged the entrance to the home, and destroyed flower pots and planters. More than 70 people were arrested during that incident after large police forces were dispatched to the scene.