Suspect Arrested For Assaulting French Nun In East Jerusalem/Image@ BBC
Shocking footage has surfaced showing a French nun being attacked in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem earlier this week, allegedly by a Jewish man.
The video captures the nun, dressed in a grey habit, being shoved from behind, causing her to strike her head against a stone block.
The assailant, identifiable by his Jewish kippah and tzitzit (ritual tassels), initially walks away but returns to kick her while she lies on the ground.
This incident occurs amid an alarming increase in harassment of Christian clergy and pilgrims by extremist Jewish individuals in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Israeli authorities have detained a 36-year-old man on suspicion of racially motivated assault, although formal charges have yet to be filed.
Director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School, Father Olivier Poquillon, where the nun conducts research, described her as a “victim of an unprovoked attack” that took place on Tuesday afternoon.
He expressed strong condemnation of the “sectarian violence” and called for prompt action from the authorities.
Israeli police apprehended the suspect on Wednesday and released footage showing him being handcuffed by officers.
In a statement issued in English on social media, the police emphasized their serious approach to any assault on clergy and religious communities, asserting a zero-tolerance policy towards violence.
A photograph of the nun revealed her bruised face, prompting the French Consulate in Jerusalem to issue a strong condemnation of the attack.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry also responded, stating that this “shameful act contradicts the values of respect, coexistence, and religious freedom” that Israel upholds. They reiterated their commitment to ensuring that Jerusalem remains a safe place for all faiths to worship.
While such violent acts against clergy are rare, there have been increasing reports in recent years of religious Jews exhibiting aggressive behavior towards individuals wearing Christian attire or symbols in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Incidents of vandalism targeting church properties have also been reported, alongside disputes arising from settler encroachments.
Church leaders have accused Israeli authorities of attempting to alter the status quo regarding ownership and responsibilities at holy sites.
A 2025 report from the Rossing Center, which seeks to improve interfaith relations in the region, notes a “recent surge in overt hostility towards Christianity,” attributing this trend to rising polarization and ultra-nationalist political movements.
In March, international outrage erupted when Israeli police barred the top Roman Catholic leader in Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a private Mass on Palm Sunday, marking a significant departure from centuries of tradition.
The police cited safety concerns related to the ongoing conflict with Iran, despite existing restrictions that allowed for small gatherings.
Last month, an image of an Israeli soldier striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in a Christian Maronite village in southern Lebanon went viral, leading to widespread condemnation.
Israeli officials issued apologies, and the two soldiers involved received 30 days of military detention and were removed from combat roles.
The assault on the nun occurred as she passed by the Cenacle on Mount Zion, a site sacred to Christians as the location of Jesus’s Last Supper and revered by Jews as the tomb of King David.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong