Hundreds of Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jews Paralyze Jerusalem Protesting Israeli Military Conscription

Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews brought Jerusalem to a standstill in a rare unified “March of the Million.”

“On October 30, 2025, approximately 200,000 ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters, mostly men in traditional attire, marched in West Jerusalem to demand continued exemption from Israeli military service”

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They blocked Highway 1, shut train service, and sealed key entrances to the city to resist mandatory military conscription.

ABP Live English

Estimates of the scale vary widely: some West Asian and local outlets report roughly 200,000 participants or “hundreds of thousands.”

Other sources say police and Haredi officials pegged the turnout between 300,000 and 500,000.

Protesters focused on preserving yeshiva study exemptions as Israel’s government moves to force enlistment.

The action was framed by several sources as a direct response to arrests of yeshiva students and aggressive draft enforcement.

The disruption was deliberate and sweeping—roads were closed and transport halted—as Haredi factions, many typically divided, rallied together.

This event was one of the largest religious demonstrations in years.

Protesters rallied because Israel’s Supreme Court ended blanket draft exemptions for yeshiva students after decades of state policy dating back to 1948.

Several sources agree that exemptions must end, but they disagree on when the decisive ruling occurred—some say June 2024, some say 2023, and one cites 2022.

Al Jazeera

Others note that new legislation is still being drafted and enforcement is intensifying through arrests and summonses.

Around 66,000 ultra-Orthodox men are currently exempt from conscription, even as authorities deploy roughly 2,000 police at protests.

Authorities are considering phased conscription changes, including plans to increase drafting from 2027 while retaining some exemptions.

The marchers insist that forced conscription threatens Torah study and their religious way of life.

The draft fight is destabilizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.

“The article covers the controversy in Israel over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, who have been exempt since 1948 due to full-time religious study”

Al Jazeera

Multiple sources report ultra-Orthodox parties resigning from cabinet roles or quitting the government altogether, with differing accounts on how far they went and what it means for the coalition’s numbers.

Some say Shas resigned ministers but stayed in the coalition while United Torah Judaism left; others claim both parties exited, leaving the government with a razor-thin majority near 60–61 seats.

Additional reporting says Netanyahu is trying to defang the draft bill by removing penalties and quotas to appease Haredi partners, even as right-wing allies and opposition figures threaten to force early elections.

On the ground, protesters attacked journalists and uniformed personnel during the Jerusalem rally.

One teenager died after falling from a height at the event.

Al-Jazeera Net

Multiple outlets report assaults on media crews from Israeli TV channels 12 and 13 and the beating of a Channel 12 reporter.

Other reports say ultra-Orthodox protesters also attacked two Haredi soldiers and a police officer.

Several sources identify the deceased as a 15-year-old boy, while one Asian outlet reports a 20-year-old man, an unresolved discrepancy.

Policing was heavy, with around 2,000 officers deployed.

Authorities evacuated people from buildings as congestion intensified.

The struggle over drafting Haredim is inseparable from Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed large numbers of people and increased recruitment pressure.

“On June 25, 2024, around 200,000 Haredi Jews protested in Jerusalem against a Supreme Court ruling that requires their military conscription and reduces financial support to religious institutions whose students refuse service”

Al-Jazeera Net

Western and West Asian outlets report that many Israelis resent exemptions as soldiers are killed and reserves are repeatedly mobilized.

AL-Monitor

An analytical West Asian source states that more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children.

Other sources note that more than 900 Israeli soldiers have been killed and that hostage remains have been returned under a truce.

Some reports indicate slight growth in Haredi enlistment and hints of compromise within the community.

However, others argue that Israel’s militarization and political bargains with Haredi parties are breaking down, forcing a new social deal.