Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men chase Israeli female soldiers

On February 15, 2026, two female Israeli army soldiers were chased by a crowd of hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in Bnei Brak, a city near Tel Aviv, Israel. The incident was captured on video, showing the women running through streets filled with rubbish and overturned garbage bins while being surrounded by guards. The soldiers were identified as squad commanders in the education and youth corps and were reportedly on an official home visit at the time of the incident. The mob consisted of screaming men dressed in traditional black and white attire, commonly associated with the Haredi community. The situation escalated to the point where the soldiers required police intervention for their rescue. Reports indicate that the soldiers were successfully extracted by law enforcement from the hostile environment created by the crowd. This event highlights the growing domestic divide in Israel regarding military service, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions related to the situation in Gaza and the need for fresh recruits in the Israeli military. The ultra-Orthodox community, known for its opposition to military service, has been increasingly vocal in its dissent against the Israeli army, which may have contributed to the aggressive behavior exhibited during this incident.