At least five yeshiva bochurim were injured overnight Wednesday during violent confrontations with police in Elad, amid serious allegations that officers entered several yeshiva campuses and threw stun grenades toward bochurim, including those who had not participated in the protests.

The unrest erupted following the arrest of a third-year bochur from Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, who had reported to a police station in Kfar Saba over a traffic violation. After discovering that he was classified as a military draft evader, police transferred him to the Military Police.

The arrest sparked demonstrations near Kfar Saba and the Ra’anana Junction before protests spread to the entrance of Elad, where yeshiva bochurim gathered to protest their fellow bochur’s arrest.

Demonstrators blocked Route 444, leading to confrontations with police. Footage from the scene showed protesters striking a police vehicle, while another video captured a garbage bag being thrown at the commander of the Rosh HaAyin police station.

Police reported that an officer suffered a head injury after being struck by a stone and was evacuated for medical treatment.

However, the most serious allegations concern what occurred after police dispersed the demonstration at the entrance to Elad.

Officers entered the campuses of Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, Yeshivas HaRav Ettinger, and a nearby yeshiva, throwing stun grenades toward bochurim in the courtyards and near dormitory buildings.

At least five bochurim were reportedly injured by the stun grenades, with one evacuated to Beilinson Hospital. Witnesses insisted that some of those injured had not participated in the demonstrations and were simply standing near their dormitories.

One bochur described the police conduct as completely unjustified, saying he had witnessed demonstrations before but had never seen officers enter three separate yeshiva campuses and indiscriminately throw stun grenades.

He described seeing injured bochurim, including one bleeding, and said grenades were thrown near rooms, caravans, and dormitory entrances.

“There’s absolutely no justification for this, even if the commander was hit by a garbage bag,” the bochur said.

The allegations have sparked outrage among bochurim, particularly because the institutions involved are mainstream Charedi yeshivos rather than those affiliated with the Peleg Yerushalmi, which has traditionally organized large demonstrations against the military draft.

Bochurim also expressed anger toward Charedi Knesset representatives, accusing them of failing to respond forcefully enough to reports that police entered major yeshivos and injured students.

In its official statement, Israel Police said dozens of demonstrators gathered near the Elad Junction, threw stones at officers, and disrupted public order.

Police said officers declared the gathering unlawful, ordered protesters to disperse, and acted to restore order and protect motorists.

However, the police statement did not directly address the allegations that officers entered yeshiva campuses, threw stun grenades near dormitories, or injured bochurim who were not participating in the protests.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)