Attacks against Christians in Israel nearly doubled in Q2 2026, with Jerusalem seeing most incidents, including spitting, assaults, and harassment.
Newsroom (09/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) A sharp increase in attacks targeting Christians in Israel and Israeli-occupied territories was recorded during the second quarter of 2026, according to a new report by the Israeli Religious Freedom Data Centre (RFDC) and its Hotline for Documenting Harassment against Christians.
The report found that 83 attacks were documented between April and June 2026, almost double the 44 incidents recorded during the first quarter of the year. The findings point to a growing pattern of hostility toward Christian individuals, institutions, and symbols, particularly in Jerusalem, where the majority of incidents occurred.
Among the 83 reported cases, the RFDC documented 46 incidents of spitting, four physical assaults, and eight verbal attacks. The organization highlighted the continued prevalence of spitting as a form of anti-Christian harassment, describing it as one of the most striking aspects of the data.
“As in previous reports, the high number of spitting incidents remains particularly striking. During this quarter, 47 incidents involved spitting, accounting for 56% of all recorded forms of harassment,” the RFDC stated.
The organization noted that such incidents have increasingly taken place openly and publicly in recent years. According to the report, perpetrators have at times justified their actions directly to hotline volunteers and even on camera, reflecting a level of confidence and visibility that concerns researchers.
The findings have drawn reaction from international Christian organizations monitoring religious freedom in the region. Dr. John Newton, Communications and Research Manager for the United Kingdom office of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), described the figures as troubling.
“The report that attacks on Christians in Israel doubled in the second quarter of this year makes for disheartening reading,” Newton said.
He noted that the latest RFDC data aligns with previous research by the Jerusalem-based Rossing Center, one of ACN’s project partners, which found that hostility toward churches and Christians has been increasing since 2023.
Newton said that most incidents involve vandalism or the spitting on priests and nuns and are primarily carried out by “young, marginalised ultra-Orthodox Jewish men with hardline nationalist views.” However, he stressed that these actions represent the behavior of only a small minority within the wider community.
“Even among the ultra-Orthodox such behaviour is very unusual: most members of the community would never consider vandalizing a church in their wildest dreams,” he said.
Increase Linked to Public Events
According to the RFDC report, incidents rose noticeably during Jerusalem Day and the Flag March, annual events commemorating Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem and the Old City during the 1967 Six-Day War.
The report also highlighted a pattern of attacks taking place in public spaces. Among the incidents cited was a widely reported attack on a French nun in Jerusalem in April.
Researchers observed that while some perpetrators acted alone, group dynamics appeared to contribute to the escalation of harassment.
“While some incidents involved individuals acting alone, moving in groups appeared to encourage spitting and similar acts,” the report stated.
The findings have renewed calls for stronger cooperation between Israeli authorities and Christian communities to address the issue.
“We would urge authorities to work closely with Israel’s Christian Churches to find a solution to these rising attacks, and encourage people around the globe to pray for all our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land,” Newton said.
Broader Concerns Over Anti-Christian Sentiment
The rise in reported incidents comes amid broader concerns about anti-Christian sentiment in the region.
In April, outrage followed the circulation of an image showing an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in Debel, southern Lebanon. Following an investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), two soldiers received 30-day military prison sentences.
The military concluded that “the soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values.”
The incident prompted a strong response from Christian leaders. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, joined the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land in issuing a statement expressing “deep indignation” and “unreserved condemnation.”
The latest figures also follow earlier RFDC findings showing an estimated 181 incidents of harassment targeting Christians, Christian symbols, and Christian institutions across Israel during 2025.
Taken together, the data points to a continuing challenge for religious coexistence in the Holy Land. While observers emphasize that the perpetrators represent only a small segment of society, Christian organizations and rights advocates warn that the growing visibility and frequency of such attacks require sustained attention from authorities and community leaders alike.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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