Police have identified Yona Schreiber, 36, as the suspect in the assault of a French nun in Jerusalem last week and have submitted a prosecutor's statement seeking to extend his detention ahead of formal charges. Schreiber was arrested on the day of the attack, which took place near the Cenacle on Mount Zion, a site sacred to both Christians and Jews.

Video footage released by authorities shows the suspect running up behind the nun, pushing her to the ground, and later returning to kick her while she lay injured. The victim, a researcher at the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, sustained visible bruises to her face. A passerby briefly attempted to intervene.

Christian leaders described the incident as sectarian violence and warned that attacks on Christians have become more frequent. Community representatives expressed concern about weak deterrence and inconsistent prosecution in similar cases.

The assault comes amid heightened tensions between Christian communities and Israeli authorities, including disputes over access to holy sites and past incidents involving vandalism and harassment. International figures, including the United States ambassador to Israel, have previously criticized the treatment of Christian institutions in the country.