Israeli police have arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of racially motivated assault after a French nun was violently attacked in East Jerusalem, with the incident captured on surveillance cameras.
The footage shows the woman, dressed in a grey habit, being shoved from behind, causing her to hit her head on a stone block. The assailant, wearing a Jewish kippah and tzitzit, initially walked away but returned to kick her while she lay on the ground.
The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Christian clergy and pilgrims in Jerusalem's Old City, which has seen a rise in harassment by Jewish extremists.
Father Olivier Poquillon, director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School where the nun works as a researcher, described the assault on X as "unprovoked" and called for swift action by authorities. "We strongly condemn this act of sectarian violence," he wrote.
Police arrested the suspect on Wednesday and released a video of him being handcuffed. In a statement, the force said it treats "any attack on members of the clergy and religious communities with the utmost seriousness."
The nun sustained bruises, and the French Consulate in Jerusalem strongly condemned the aggression. Israel's Foreign Ministry responded, calling the act "shameful" and emphasizing the country's commitment to religious freedom and coexistence.
While such violent physical attacks are unusual, there have been regular reports of religious Jews spitting at or acting aggressively toward Christians in the Old City. Church properties have also been vandalized, and disputes over settler takeovers have escalated. Church leaders accuse Israel of attempting to alter long-standing agreements at holy sites.
A 2025 report by the Rossing Center noted a "recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity," attributing it to growing polarization and ultra-nationalist political trends.
The assault occurred as the nun walked past the Cenacle on Mount Zion, a site revered by Christians as the location of Jesus's Last Supper and by Jews as the tomb of King David.