Israel warns Haredi Jewish hikers over kosher phones amid Iran attack fears

The Israeli military has issued warnings to Haredi Jewish hikers using 'kosher phones' over fears for their safety, with Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel expected at any time.

Israel's Home Front Command is concerned that Haredi Jews will not be able to access alerts about potential Iranian or Hezbollah strikes when hiking in remote areas, a common pastime during some Jewish holidays.

Many Haredi Jews in Israel use modified dumbphones for religious reasons, which do not have access to the internet or messaging apps, and don't work on the Sabbath.

Haredis in Israel, or ultra-Orthodox, commonly go hiking on certain Jewish holidays, including Tisha B'Av between 12 and 13 August and the first day of the month of Elul on 4 September.

Kosher phones not only mean that the hikers will be unable to receive message alerts from authorities but also be out of range of sirens warning of possible incoming rockets.

Some of these hiking hotspots are also situated in the north of Israel, in areas near the Lebanese border which have been subject to repeated retaliatory Hezbollah strikes.

The Israeli military has warned people to avoid the northern border areas and to take precautions when in other remote areas.

It comes after Iran and Hezbollah pledged retaliatory strikes on Israel, after the killing of figures linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanese Islamist movement, as well as Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The issue of kosher phones is highly controversial in Israel with accusations about the devices further segregating the Haredi population, particularly women and children, with phone numbers distinguishing between smart and dumb phones.

Haredi rabbis and religious leaders are said to exert pressure on people in their communities to use only these devices while far-right ultra-Orthodox activists have attacked shops selling smartphones in Jerusalem.