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A 36-year-old Jewish extremist attacked a French nun near King David's Tomb in Jerusalem's Old City on April 28, security camera footage released by the Israeli police shows. The footage captures the man shoving the nun from behind, causing her to strike her head against a rock, and then repeatedly kicking her as she lay on the ground.
The Israeli suspect was arrested on suspicion of racially motivated assault, as Israeli authorities condemned the attack as a violation of Israel's values of "coexistence and religious freedom."
The Israeli police released CCTV footage on X showing the suspect approaching the nun from behind and shoving her forcefully onto the pavement. The nun's head hit a rock as she fell, while the attacker continued to kick her as she was on the ground.
Bystanders, including two Israeli women and a man, intervened to stop the assault and helped the nun flee toward the Zion Gate.
The attacker briefly pursued the group before withdrawing.
The Israeli police confirmed in their statement: "After the attack on the nun yesterday in the area of the Tomb of David in Jerusalem, the David District Police located the suspect (36) and arrested him on suspicion of assault motivated by racism."
The French Consulate General in Jerusalem said: "France strongly condemns the aggression yesterday in Jerusalem against a French nun from École Biblique. We wish a prompt recovery to the assaulted nun, whose situation we are closely following. France calls for the perpetrator to be brought to justice."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued an unusually strong condemnation.
"The State of Israel views yesterday's attack against a nun in Jerusalem 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. This shameful act stands in direct contradiction to the values of respect, coexistence, and religious freedom upon which Israel is founded," the statement said.
The Vicar General of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem termed the attack "dangerous" and called for "re-education of those holding racist ideology."
École Biblique Director Olivier Poquillon said: "We strongly condemn this act of sectarian violence and expect the authorities to act swiftly and firmly. The scourge of hatred is a common challenge."
Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency published a documented map of Israeli attacks on Christian religious sites in Palestine and Lebanon since October 2023:
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