Overview
- The attack, captured on police video Tuesday near the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion, shows a man shove a nun to the ground and return to kick her before a passerby steps in.
- Police released the footage, used evidence from the scene to locate a 36-year-old suspect within hours, and opened a hate-crime inquiry as a court considers extending his detention.
- The victim is a French nun and researcher at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem, and she is recovering after treatment for head and facial injuries.
- Israeli officials called the assault despicable and pledged accountability, while France, Italy, and Spain condemned the attack and urged stronger guarantees for freedom of worship.
- Christian leaders and coexistence groups cite a wider trend of harassment—up 63% in Israel during 2025—and note that incidents near Mount Zion and other holy sites heighten tension and demand firmer protection.