Photo credit: AP, X/@i24NEWS_EN
A 14-year-old boy was killed and at least three other teenagers were injured Tuesday night when a bus struck ultra-Orthodox protesters during a mass anti-conscription demonstration in Jerusalem, reported The Times of Israel.The fatal incident reportedly occurred in the Romema neighborhood, where tens of thousands of Haredim had gathered to protest efforts to draft ultra-Orthodox men into the Israel Defense Forces. The victim was later identified as Yosef Eisenthal, 14, from Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood. Three additional youths were lightly wounded. Police said preliminary findings indicate rioters surrounded and attacked the bus driver, who was blocking the road moments before the ramming. Protesters had set fires, overturned bins, and obstructed traffic along Yirmiyahu Street and near the Shamgar Street intersection as the demonstration escalated into violence.Magen David Adom reported that the bus first struck several pedestrians near Shamgar Street before continuing to Ohel Yehoshua Street, where another victim was hit. EMT Eli Eisenbach described the scene: “There was a lot of commotion, and a young victim, approximately 18 years old, was trapped under the bus… Unfortunately, we had to declare his death at the scene of the accident.” Footage from the area showed the bus driving through an intersection where a fire burned in the roadway, with one protester dragged underneath as bystanders screamed. Police later forced back emergency responders attempting a rescue. The bus driver was detained for questioning and told investigators he feared for his safety after protesters surrounded his vehicle. Police warned that “violent rioting, blocking traffic arteries and attacking vehicles cross a red line, endanger lives and could end in great tragedy.Some lawmakers quoted by The Times of Israel blamed what they described as widespread incitement against the Haredi community, with MK Yisrael Eichler stating: “The brutal murder tonight of a Haredi teenager dragged under a bus in Jerusalem is a direct result of wild and antisemitic incitement against the Haredim.” Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
