An Israeli police officer has been suspended from operational duty after footage surfaced appearing to show him kicking a protester during demonstrations on Route 4 near Bnei Brak, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and prompted a formal review by police leadership.

The controversy erupted after videos from the protest circulated widely on social media, showing heated confrontations between police officers and demonstrators. In response, police announced that the officer seen in the footage was immediately removed from operational responsibilities pending a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The suspension was ordered by Tel Aviv District Commander Chaim Sargarof following the publication of videos from the protest organized by members of the Peleg Yerushalmi movement against the arrest of yeshiva students.

Police Commissioner Danny Levy also addressed the incident, stating that all available footage and evidence would be thoroughly reviewed.

“If, after reviewing the videos from the protest at the Bnei Brak junction, we determine that commanders or officers acted contrary to police procedures, we will not hesitate to deal with it severely and suspend them from operational activity,” the commissioner said.

Levy added that senior police commanders were present at the scene and emphasized that he expects them to maintain control of such situations.

“There were senior commanders at the protest, and my expectation is that they control the event,” he said.

The demonstration took place Wednesday morning on Route 4 near the entrance to Bnei Brak, where hundreds of protesters blocked traffic to protest the detention of yeshiva students. Large numbers of police officers were deployed to clear the roadway and restore the flow of traffic.

During the operation, several confrontations broke out between officers and demonstrators, producing scenes that quickly became the focus of intense public criticism.

Videos circulated throughout the day showed police using force against protesters. In one of the most widely shared clips, an officer appeared to kick a demonstrator who was lying on the ground.