Israeli Police Arrest Man in Attack on Nun Near Biblical Site in Jerusalem

Israeli police said on April 29 they have arrested a man on suspicion of a racially motivated assault after video footage showed an attack on a nun in Jerusalem.

Police said in a statement they had received a report of an attack on the Christian woman on April 28 in the area of David’s Tomb, a holy site outside of Zion’s Gate on the southern side of the Old City, which is in Israel-controlled east Jerusalem.

“Upon receiving the report, David area police in the Jerusalem district launched extensive searches and targeted investigative operations, at the end of which the suspect, 36, was located and arrested,” the statement said.

The suspect was transferred for questioning and remains in custody, it said.

Israel Police on its English language X account shared a post condemning the attack.

“The Israel Police treats any attack on members of the clergy and religious communities with the utmost seriousness and applies a policy of zero tolerance to all acts of violence,” it said.

“In a city sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, we remain committed to protecting all communities and ensuring those responsible for violence are held accountable.”

Israel Police on April 30 released a video via its Hebrew language X account. It shows a nun walking down the street, and a man running up behind her and pushing her to the ground.

The man turns around and walks away as the woman rolls over and remains on the ground. He then returns, gestures at her, and kicks her, though she appears to deflect the blow with her leg.

Bystanders then intervene to separate the two.

Hebrew University Condemns Incident

Fr. Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research (EBAF) in Jerusalem, said the nun, who is French, was a researcher at the institution.

“We strongly condemn this act of sectarian violence and expect the authorities to act swiftly and firmly,” Poquillon said in an April 28 post on X, which was reposted by EBAF’s main account.

The Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem described EBAF as a “cherished academic partner” and condemned the assault on the nun, referring to her as their colleague.

The incident was not isolated, the department said in an April 29 post on Facebook, but “part of a troubling pattern of rising hostility toward the Christian community and its symbols.” It added that the violence was a “direct assault” on the values of religious pluralism in Jerusalem.

The French consulate in Jerusalem said it “strongly condemns the aggression” against the nun.

“We wish a prompt recovery to the assaulted nun, whose situation we are closely following. France calls for the perpetrator of the aggression to be brought to justice for this act and for justice to be served,” the consulate said in an April 29 post on X.

Israel Calls for ‘Safeguarding Freedom of Religion’

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on an April 29 post on X that the state of Israel views the attack “with the utmost seriousness.”

“We strongly condemn this despicable attack. Violence against innocent individuals, and especially against members of religious communities, has no place in our society,” the ministry said.

“This shameful act stands in direct contradiction to the values of respect, coexistence, and religious freedom upon which Israel is founded and to which it remains deeply committed.”

The Foreign Ministry extended its sympathies to the nun and conveyed its solidarity with the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

“Israel remains firmly committed to safeguarding freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all faiths, and to ensuring that Jerusalem remains a city where every community can live, pray, and practice its faith in safety and dignity.”

Statue of Jesus Christ Smashed

The arrest is the latest high-profile anti-Christian incident in the region, after an Israeli soldier toppled a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon and further damaged it with a sledgehammer. A photograph of the incident circulated widely on social media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the act, saying in an April 20 post on X, “We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on April 21 that two Israeli soldiers—the one who damaged the statue and the one who took the photograph—would receive a month of military detention as punishment.

“The IDF expresses deep regret over the incident and emphasizes that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and other terrorist groups, and not against Lebanese civilians,” the IDF said.