Israeli Authorities Detain Suspect in Assault on Nun Near Jerusalem’s Old City

RAMALLAH – In a concerning development, Israeli authorities have taken a 36-year-old man into custody following a disturbing incident captured on video, which shows an attack on a nun near Jerusalem’s Old City. This occurrence is the latest in a series of troubling events targeting Christians in the area.

The arrest took place after the assault on Wednesday near the revered site of David’s Tomb, located just outside Zion’s Gate on the southern fringe of the Old City. According to the police, the man is being held on charges of committing a “racially motivated attack,” with investigations still underway.

Footage released by the police reveals the nun with visible bruises and shows the alleged attacker wearing tzitzit, a traditional fringed garment worn by some Jewish men. The attire has been noted in the context of the attack, raising additional concerns about the motive behind the incident.

Olivier Poquillon, who heads the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, identified the victim as a researcher from the school. He expressed his dismay, labeling the incident as an “act of sectarian violence” in a public statement on the platform X.

Jerusalem’s Old City, a historic and spiritual epicenter for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is situated in east Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel. This ancient walled enclave is a focal point of religious and cultural significance, yet it remains a hotbed of tension, as disputes over access and ownership are deeply intertwined with the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Religious groups have documented a rise in acts of harassment and violence against Christian pilgrims and clergy as well as Palestinian Christian residents, including assaults and spitting, often by ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva students.

Wadie Abunassar, the coordinator of the Holy Land Christian Forum, called attacks targeting Christians a growing phenomenon. He attributed the quick response to the attack on the nun to the fact that it was caught on video.

He said he felt “great anger on the system and great sadness because I feel that this will not end anytime soon.” One of the problems, he said, was the deterrence against such violence.

“Many times in such cases there are no arrests and if there are arrests, sometimes after one or two days, (suspects) are released,” he added. “In some cases, the police do not recommend the prosecution to file charges or to indict them. And in some cases, when there is indictment, the indictment is mild.”

The arrest comes as Israeli treatment of religious minorities is under scrutiny, weeks after police limited access for holiday worship to Muslims as well as Christians, up to Latin Patriarch’s Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Israel also drew international criticism after a soldier photographed himself having bludgeoned a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with an ax in southern Lebanon. Israeli leaders later disavowed the incident and said he would be reprimanded.

“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,” Israeli police said in a social media post about the man arrested for attacking the nun.