The attack on a nun, reportedly on racist grounds, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, shortly after she passed near King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem’s Old City, continues to generate outrage, drawing a wave of condemnations. In the eyes of the Christian world, the incident is not seen as an isolated criminal act, but as a reflection of rising religious and political tensions in Jerusalem during this period.
The location of the attack is considered symbolic – near the Room of the Last Supper (the Cenacle) on Mount Zion, where Jesus dined before being arrested by soldiers of the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate and led to crucifixion. The nun herself is also a researcher at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem, a French academic institution located within the Saint Stephen’s Monastery compound on Nablus Road in Jerusalem.
Is this an isolated incident or part of rising tensions against Christians in Jerusalem?
Father Olivier-Thomas Venard, head of the institution, was among the first to report the incident, describing it as “sectarian violence” and calling on authorities to act decisively against the attacker. On his X account, he also shared an image of the nun during her academic work.
תיעוד – תקיפה הנזירה באזור קבר דוד בירושלים pic.twitter.com/sQzwUAQ1Yc
— jerusalem online (@Jlmonline) April 30, 2026
Meanwhile, the French Consulate in Jerusalem strongly condemned the aggression against the French citizen, wished her a speedy recovery, and demanded that justice be served. The Vatican, through the Apostolic Nunciature in Israel, issued an official statement saying that violence against Christians in Jerusalem has “crossed a red line.” The Vatican’s representative called on Israeli authorities to strengthen enforcement and bring charges against those inciting violence. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, spoke sharply, stating that the current political climate is giving “legitimacy to discrimination and violence” against the Christian community.
Jerusalem on Edge: Nun attacked near David’s Tomb
In addition, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem released a report condemning the recent سلسلة of attacks, including the assault on the nun, describing it as an attempt to undermine the Christian presence in the city. The Custody of the Holy Land also expressed deep concern over the personal safety of clergy in public spaces in Jerusalem.
How did institutions in Israel respond to the Jerusalem incident?
In Israel, the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University joined the condemnation, issuing an official statement denouncing the extremists responsible for the attack. The faculty noted that the French Biblical School, where the nun conducts research, is a partner institution, and described the incident as part of a “troubling pattern of growing hostility” toward the Christian community, undermining Jerusalem’s pluralistic values.
Amid the international backlash, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a strong condemnation on its X account, calling the attack “despicable” and stressing that it has no place in Israeli society. The ministry expressed solidarity with the Latin Patriarchate and pledged to uphold freedom of worship for all religions.
