“The kidnappers are here”: Haredim terrified of military arrests as draft issue heats up

The Israeli military has initiated a targeted operation to enforce conscription among young men who fail to report for mandatory draft orders, including in the Haredi community. This is a direct result of ongoing personnel shortages due to prolonged fighting. This has prompted warnings from Haredi organizations, with telephone hotlines urging vigilance against military police visits, referring to them as “kidnappers.”

The IDF announced that its military police have begun operations against candidates for security service, known as recruits, who did not report to recruitment offices after receiving draft orders. “All required processes have been exhausted,” the IDF stated, explaining that recruits who fail to appear are considered absent without permission, which could lead to disciplinary or criminal sanctions. The military emphasized its commitment to enforcing conscription laws across all sectors.

The operation, directed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, focuses on enforcing Order 12, a directive issued to people who ignored initial, secondary, and tertiary draft notices, as well as a prior warning. Non-compliance with Order 12 triggers an arrest warrant, a travel ban, and potential further penalties. Military police are expected to visit recruits’ homes, including in Haredi neighborhoods, to ensure compliance.

The enforcement effort stems from the IDF’s need for additional manpower as the conflict, now in its 19th month, continues to strain resources. The military plans to apply strict measures against draft evaders in both the Haredi and general populations, with additional personnel allocated to implement orders and sanctions. The IDF stated that enforcement will extend beyond airport checks, with military police actively pursuing non-compliant recruits in their cities of residence.

In response, Haredi organizations opposing conscription have activated telephone hotlines to prepare communities for potential military police visits.

A hotline operated by a group led by Rabbi Zvi Friedman, a prominent figure in the Jerusalem Haredi faction, circulated a message warning of “heightened preparations by the military police to carry out arrests in Haredi population centers.” The message urged the public to be ready for a phone alert from a system called “The Kidnappers Have Arrived” and to respond quickly if they receive such alerts.

A senior official from the United Torah Judaism party stated, “No yeshiva student will abandon the Gemara,” in obvious resistance to the draft within the Haredi community. Haredi hotlines have also been briefing young men on strategies to avoid conscription, a practice that has intensified as the IDF ramps up enforcement.

The IDF’s actions indicate a serious push to address draft evasion at a time when military demands are high, but the enforcement measures risk escalating tensions with Haredi communities, where many view conscription as a threat to religious study and communal life.

Ynet contributed to this article.