Three female demonstrators were reportedly subjected to strip searches following their arrest during a protest in Tel Aviv on Thursday night. The demonstration focused on advocating for a hostage deal related to Gaza, as highlighted by a report published on Friday.
The protestors were detained on accusations of disorderly conduct, a claim that, under normal circumstances, would not typically warrant a strip search. While law enforcement retains the right to conduct such searches, the circumstances of this case raised eyebrows.
Alongside the three women, two men were also arrested. However, the men did not undergo the same strip-search procedures. Eyewitness accounts from the detainees revealed troubling details about the searches. Specifically, two of the women indicated they were instructed to remove their pants and lift their shirts while in custody.
Efrat Safran, one of the arrested individuals, recounted her experience to Haaretz, stating, “If you resist, we’ll use reasonable force. We were left with no choice but to comply.” This marked Safran’s fourth arrest related to protests, yet she noted that she had never before been required to undress during prior detentions.
Another detainee expressed that while the officer involved justified the search by claiming it was necessary for ensuring the safety of the detainees and others, there were still discussions about the legality of the procedure.
The police defended their actions, suggesting that the strip search was lawful and routine, asserting it was a measure to prevent detainees from possessing items that could potentially cause harm while in the holding cell.
Mounted police face off against anti-government and pro-hostage deal protesters on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, August 9, 2025. (Yael Gadot/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
The legal representative for the protesters contended that, given the charges involved, which revolve solely around public order, the application of strip searches was an unnecessary violation of the detainees’ rights. Furthermore, data reported that over the past month, 18 complaints have been lodged against police over similar incidents involving partial strip searches of protesters.
In a related incident from the previous week, Channel 12 noted that a different group of women was strip-searched after their arrest for obstructing a roadway during another anti-government protest in Tel Aviv. In contrast, a male individual arrested at the same time was only asked to lift his shirt and did not undergo a strip search. Police stated that strip searches should occur only when there is reasonable suspicion to support them.
Despite the police’s assertions regarding their procedures, these incidents continue to draw scrutiny and raise concerns about the treatment of protesters and the justification for such invasive searches.
