A tense and violent confrontation broke out in Elad over Shabbos after yeshiva bochurim staged a protest against vehicles entering the predominantly Chareidi city on Shabbos. Several bochurim were struck by a vehicle during the unrest, and clashes resumed after Shabbos. Police have since begun taking formal complaints from the injured students.

According to residents, the checkpoint at Elad’s entrance has, in recent weeks, failed to prevent vehicles from entering the city on Shabbos, resulting in a growing number of cars driving through the city during the holy day. In response, dozens of bochurim from Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah and Yeshivas Knesses Yechezkel, headed by Rav Baruch Mordechai Ettinger, gathered at the entrance to demonstrate against the ongoing Shabbos desecration.

The most serious incident occurred Friday night at approximately 11 p.m., when a vehicle attempting to leave the city encountered the protest. Witnesses said the barriers erected by the bochurim were knocked aside, and the situation quickly escalated into violent confrontations that included stone-throwing.

During the disturbance, several bochurim were struck by a vehicle. One student was reportedly thrown over the car and sustained injuries, while at least five others were hurt to varying degrees. One of the injured was treated at the scene by emergency personnel before being transported to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikvah for additional treatment.

Eyewitnesses alleged that a police officer present at the scene did not detain those involved, despite witnessing the incident firsthand. They further claimed that after striking the bochurim, the vehicle continued driving toward the crowd. According to the witnesses, when Magen David Adom teams arrived, the officer told them that no vehicle-ramming had occurred.

At approximately 4 a.m. Shabbos morning, some of those involved returned to the area, leading to another round of confrontations with the bochurim.

The tensions continued after Shabbos, when dozens of bochurim gathered near the home of one of the individuals allegedly involved in the earlier incidents. Police deployed large forces to the area in an effort to prevent additional violence. During the disturbances, stones were thrown, and police arrested a female driver who, according to information obtained by Matzav.com, is suspected of participating in the stone-throwing.

{Matzav.com}