Following a severe physical assault in April, Catholic nuns in Jerusalem's Old City are now relying on Jewish volunteers for physical protection, as local researchers confirm harassment against Christians in Jerusalem has reached unprecedented levels. Sister Mayela, a Mexican nun who has lived in the region for two decades, now travels to work with an escort after violent incidents left the religious minority fearful for their safety in the Holy Land.
The news came after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, deepened regional conflicts and ignited a severe rise in religious hostilities across Israel. Data from the Religious Freedom Data Center confirms a near-tripling of harassment incidents over the last four years, with recorded offences now occurring almost daily at the hands of Jewish religious nationalists.
