Thousands of Orthodox Jews gathered for the funeral of a prominent rabbi in the streets of Jerusalem on Sunday. It was the latest mass gathering to breach coronavirus restrictions. Rabbi Meshulam Soloveitchik died after contracting COVID-19, aged 99. Police did not intervene to disperse the crowds, and many attending did not wear masks, prompting Defence Minister Benny Gantz to demand that lockdown rules be obeyed.

"Millions of families and children are locked in their homes and abide by the rules while thousands of Haredim crowd the funeral, most of them even without masks," Mr Gantz tweeted. "We will not agree to the continuation of an ineffective fake lockdown. Either everyone is locked down - or everyone opens. The days of indulgence are over."

Centrist Gantz will face Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in early elections announced to take place in March, after the Knesset was dissolved on December 22 over budget disagreements.

Ultra-Orthodox Israelis, or Haredim, make up a significant part of Netanyahu's voter base. Their defiance of lockdown rules and law enforcements reactions to those have become a political issue.

Israel is currently under a third national lockdown, though racing ahead of other nations in its vaccination program. Two thirds of the population have received their first vaccination jab, but new infections have continued to grow by the thousands daily.

Images: Ronen Zvulun / Reuters