A 27-year-old Jerusalem resident was arrested by Israel Police on suspicion of spraying graffiti inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City. According to the police statement, a report was received about a suspicious individual wandering near the Old City gates before fleeing toward the church
Guided by surveillance operators from the David Subdistrict control center (“Mabat 2000”), officers located the suspect near the church. A spray can was found in his possession, allegedly used in the act
Graffiti found inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
During a sweep inside the church, police officers discovered graffiti scrawled on the wall reading: “There is a Holocaust in Gaza.” The suspect was detained and transferred for questioning. Police emphasized the gravity of defacing one of Christianity’s most sacred sites
The unusual message and the sensitive location prompted immediate investigative action, with efforts underway to determine the full circumstances and prevent further incidents
Background: previous graffiti at the Western Wall
Police noted that only recently, the same individual had sprayed similar graffiti at the Western Wall and at other sites in Jerusalem. He was arrested at the time but released by the court under restrictive conditions
The repeat incident, this time inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, underscored the seriousness of the case. Police have now requested that the court extend his detention
(Graffiti on Western Wall, Mughrabi Gate Sparks Tears)
Ongoing investigation and legal proceedings
According to police, the investigation is continuing, and all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard Jerusalem’s holy sites. Authorities stressed that this case adds to a troubling series of events affecting religious sensitivity in the city
A court hearing later today is expected to decide whether the suspect will remain in custody, alongside the collection of further evidence
