In the center of Jerusalem, a guy assaulted a nun by pushing her over and violently kicking her.
The unidentified man was seen in terrifying CCTV footage on Tuesday running up to the nun and giving her a forceful shove.
As her assailant left, the nun fell hard and seemed to writhe in pain while grabbing her head.
However, he turned back on himself and walked over to kick her multiple times.
He didn’t stop until a spectator intervened.
The attack took place in front of the Cenacle, a structure on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion that is revered by both Christians and Jews, the latter of whom believe it to be the final resting place of King David.
In relation to the case, Israel’s police announced on Wednesday that they had detained a guy.
“The suspect, a 36-year-old male, was identified and subsequently arrested by police,” the force said in a statement, adding that any violent conduct “driven by potentially racist motives and directed toward members of the clergy” will be treated with “utmost severity.”
The suspect’s nationality was not disclosed by the police, but they did state that he was detained “on suspicion of assault, with all potential motives under examination.”
As she was walking, the man raced up to her and shoved her.
The unidentified man was seen in terrifying CCTV footage on Tuesday running up to the nun and shoving her violently.
After pushing the nun down, the as-yet-unidentified male repeatedly kicked her.
Police footage showed the attacker wearing tzitzit, a fringed undergarment worn by certain observant Jewish males, and the nun with bruises.
The arrested suspect was Jewish, according to the Times of Israel.
The 48-year-old nun was a researcher at Jerusalem’s French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, according to Father Olivier Poquillon, director of the school, who told AFP that she does not want to speak in public. “Yesterday, around 17.45 … she felt someone come up behind her and throw her with full force onto a rock,” Poquillon said, describing the attack on Tuesday. “While the sister was on the ground, the man began to kick her repeatedly.”
The French Consulate in Jerusalem reprinted a statement “strongly condemning” the “gratuitous assault” that Poquillon had denounced on X on Tuesday.
“The scourge of hatred is a common challenge,” he said, referring to the attack as a “act of sectarian violence.”
“He commented on X, “We thank the diplomats, academics, and everyone who helped our sister during the attack she was the victim of, pending the judicial follow-up.”
In a statement on X, Israel’s foreign ministry denounced a “shameful act” and reaffirmed its commitment “to safeguarding freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all faiths.”
“This is not an isolated incident, but part of a troubling pattern of rising hostility toward the Christian community and its symbols,” the faculty of humanities at Hebrew University in Jerusalem said in a statement, expressing “profound shock and condemnation” for the attack and lamenting its increasing frequency.
As her attacker left, the nun fell hard and seemed to writhe in pain while grabbing her head.
Her face was severely bruised.
The attack “occurred in a context where anti-Christian acts have become commonplace, with insults and spitting by [Jewish] extremists targeting clergy in religious dress on a daily basis,” according to a European diplomatic source in Jerusalem.
Attacks against Christians are becoming more common, according to Holy Land Christian Forum coordinator Wadie Abunassar. He said that the fact that the attack on the nun was captured on camera was the reason for the prompt reaction.
“Great anger on the system and great sadness because I feel that this will not end anytime soon,” he expressed. He stated that deterring such violence was one of the issues.
“There are frequently no arrests in such cases, and if there are, (suspects) are sometimes released after one or two days,” he continued.In certain instances, the police do not advise the prosecution to indict or bring charges against them. Additionally, when an indictment is filed, it may be minor.
Two troops were taken off combat duty earlier this month by the military after they demolished a statue of Jesus Christ in a town in southern Lebanon. This action was widely denounced.
Two troops were taken off combat duty earlier this month by the military after they demolished a statue of Jesus Christ in a town in southern Lebanon. This action was widely denounced.
The IDF declared that “the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops” and that the incident was of “great severity.”
A soldier is seen striking the monument with what looks to be the butt of a heavy-duty maul axe in a photo of the incident that was taken in Debl, a Christian community in south Lebanon close to the Israeli border.
Early in March, Hezbollah, an armed group supported by Iran, launched missiles into Israel in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran, drawing Lebanon into the Middle East crisis.
In response, Israel invaded the south of Lebanon and launched a bombing campaign throughout the country.
The Israeli military stated that the Northern Command was looking into the event after the photo went viral and that the “IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue.”
“As a result, it was decided that both the soldier who damaged the Christian emblem and the soldier who took the picture would be placed in military custody for 30 days and withdrawn from combat duty, according to a statement.
According to the military, six other soldiers were on the scene but did nothing to stop the incident or report it.
These soldiers “who stood by have been summoned for clarification discussions that will be held later on, after which further command-level measures will be determined.”
The Israeli army stated, “The IDF expresses deep regret over the incident and emphasises that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely against the terrorist organization Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, and not against Lebanese civilians.”
Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, denounced what he described as a “shameful and disgraceful” behaviour.
He commented on X, “I am confident that whoever committed this ugly act will face the necessary severe measures.”
He continued, “We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”
In a lengthy post on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the actions, writing: “As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths.”
We see people of all faiths as equals in constructing our society and area, and all religions thrive in our country. Like the vast majority of Israelis, I was shocked and grieved to hear yesterday that a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon had been harmed by an IDF soldier.
“I strongly condemn the act.” A criminal investigation is being carried out by military authorities, and the culprit will face appropriate and severe disciplinary consequences.
Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel and a devout Christian, stated that Israel needs to respond to the “outrageous act.”
