A French nun was attacked in Jerusalem on Tuesday outside the Cenacle on Mount Zion, one of Christianity's most sacred locations, marking the site of the Last Supper. Israeli police released video footage showing the assault, in which a suspect forcefully shoved the nun from behind, causing her to fall and strike her head on concrete. The attacker then kicked the nun before being confronted by a nearby pedestrian. The suspect, identified as a 36-year-old Jewish extremist, was arrested on Wednesday and remains in custody.
Israeli authorities responded swiftly to the incident. The Israel Police opened an investigation immediately following the assault and released a statement condemning the attack. "The Israel Police treats any attack on members of the clergy and religious communities with the utmost seriousness and applies a policy of zero tolerance to all acts of violence," the department said. Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a separate condemnation, calling the assault "a despicable attack" and stating that "violence against innocent individuals, and especially against members of religious communities, has no place in our society."
The nun, who works as a researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, became the subject of renewed debate over reporting on anti-Christian violence. Religious institutions in Jerusalem characterized the incident as part of what they described as a "disturbing rise in Christianophobia" in the Old City and elsewhere in Israel. The institution labeled the attack a "heinous and utterly disgusting hate crime" and called on police, courts, and Israeli leadership to take legislative, educational, and enforcement action to address the trend.
The attack occurred amid broader concerns about underreported violence against Christians globally. According to statements attributed to Vatican officials, approximately 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2025, averaging roughly 13 deaths per day. The Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations noted that one in seven Christians is affected by acts of violence, yet such incidents receive limited coverage in mainstream U.S. media outlets compared to reported attacks on other religious groups.
