Israeli authorities detain man in an attack targeting Christian nun PHOTO / VIDEO

Israeli police said on Friday, May 1, that a 36-year-old man has been arrested after being caught on video attacking a nun near Jerusalem’s Old City, in what authorities described as the latest incident targeting Christians in the area.

The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, was detained following the attack on Wednesday, April 29, near David’s Tomb, a religious site located outside Zion’s Gate on the southern side of the Old City. Police said he was arrested “on suspicion of a racially motivated attack” and remains in custody, as per US media.

Footage released by police showed the nun with visible bruises. The alleged attacker was seen wearing tzitzit, a fringed garment worn by some observant Jewish men.

Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, identified the victim as a researcher affiliated with the institution. In a post on X, he described the incident as an “act of sectarian violence.”

The Old City of East Jerusalem is a historic walled area built over thousands of years and contains sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. It remains a focal point of tensions, as access to and control over these religious sites are closely tied to broader historical and political disputes at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Religious organisations have reported an increase in harassment and violence targeting Christian pilgrims, clergy, and Palestinian Christian residents. Documented incidents include assaults and spitting, often attributed to ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva students.

The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of religious minorities. In recent weeks, police restricted access for holiday worship for both Muslims and Christians, including limitations affecting Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Israel has also faced international criticism following an incident in southern Lebanon in which a soldier photographed himself striking a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with an ax. Israeli officials later distanced themselves from the act and said the soldier 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 statement regarding the arrest.

By Tamilla Hasanova