Christian leaders condemn rising anti-Christian violence in Jerusalem after nun attack, urging stronger action from Israeli authorities.
Newsroom (07/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Christian leaders in the Holy Land have issued strong warnings over what they describe as a growing wave of anti-Christian violence, following a recent assault on a French nun in Jerusalem.
The attack occurred on April 28, when a 48-year-old nun, a researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, was pushed from behind and kicked by a man, leaving her bruised. Israeli police later identified and arrested a 36-year-old suspect, stating they view violence “driven by potentially racist motives and directed toward members of the clergy” with “utmost severity.”
Despite the arrest, Church officials and religious leaders say the incident reflects a broader and worsening trend.
Father Oliver Poquillon, director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School, described the violence as a “scourge” and called for stronger action. “We strongly condemn this sectarian violence and expect the authorities to treat this unprovoked attack with all the severity it deserves,” he said. He added that the issue represents “an existential challenge for Israeli society,” urging recognition of a shared responsibility to confront hatred.
Concerns about rising hostility were echoed by Sami El-Yousef, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He pointed to what he described as a lack of meaningful response from authorities. “The number of attacks is on the rise and the lack of any meaningful response by the authorities is making the situation much worse,” he said.
A Vatican official involved in past negotiations between Israel and the Holy See linked the incidents to a broader global trend of hostility toward perceived “others,” noting that such dynamics are also contributing to rising antisemitism. Speaking anonymously, the official emphasized the importance of “reciprocity” in interreligious relations in the Holy Land.
Israeli police defended their response, highlighting the swift arrest in this case and reiterating a “zero tolerance” policy toward violence against religious communities.
Bishop William Shomali, vicar general of the Latin Patriarchate, acknowledged the prompt police action but warned of deeper societal issues. He cited extremist rhetoric, including slogans invoking “death,” and stressed “the need to re-educate those who hold racist ideologies.” While noting that police had been slower to act in previous incidents, he said their response in this case “is to their credit.”
The Jerusalem attack comes amid other recent controversies. Last month, outrage followed the circulation of an image showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus in Debel, southern Lebanon. An Israeli military investigation found the soldiers’ actions “completely deviated from IDF orders and values,” and two soldiers received 30-day prison sentences.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, condemned the act as “a grave affront to the Christian faith,” linking it to a pattern of reported desecrations. In a joint statement with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, he described the incident as evidence of “a disturbing failure in moral and human formation.”
Data collected by the Jerusalem-based Religious Freedom Data Center underscores the scale of the issue. The organization recorded an estimated 181 incidents in 2025 involving harassment targeting Christians, their symbols, and institutions in Israel.
Church leaders warn that without sustained and effective intervention, such incidents risk further deepening tensions and undermining the fragile coexistence among religious communities in the region.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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