Israeli settlers filmed spitting on Virgin Mary shrine

Video footage circulating online has sparked widespread outrage after Israeli settlers were filmed spitting on the Shrine of the Virgin Mary in occupied East Jerusalem during the annual Flag March procession.

The incident reportedly took place in the Bab al-Jadid area, opposite the Church of the Shepherds of the Saviour, as nationalist marchers moved through the area during the controversial annual event.

The footage, widely shared across social media platforms, shows the zionists spitting on the Christian religious site while passing through the area.

The video quickly triggered strong reactions online, with many condemning the act as offensive towards Christian holy spaces and symbolic of rising religious hostility in the occupied city.

“Spitting on sacred spaces betrays basic human decency and fuels deeper hatred,” one user wrote.

Others criticised international political support for Israel, particularly among Western Christian groups. “Show this to the Christian Right Fascist Frauds who also call themselves Christian Zionists,” another comment read.

Some users questioned whether there would be any accountability following the incident. “Isn’t there anyone in the opposition to this government of murderers who will put an end to this?” one person wrote.

Several comments also rejected attempts to frame those involved as fringe actors. “These aren’t extremists, these are just Zionists,” one user stated, while another claimed such incidents reflected a broader pattern of hostility toward Christians in the area.

“They spit at Christians daily. It’s a part of life,” one comment reminded people.

The controversy comes weeks after another incident involving an Israeli soldier drew international attention after footage emerged showing him smashing a statue of Jesus in a village in southern Lebanon.

Following backlash over that incident, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed the authenticity of the footage and announced an investigation. “The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasises that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,” the military said in a statement at the time.

Gideon Sa’ar also publicly condemned the act, calling it “grave and disgraceful” and apologising to Christians offended by the incident.

The latest footage from Jerusalem has once again reignited debate online over religious tensions, treatment of Christian holy sites, and the atmosphere surrounding nationalist demonstrations in occupied Jerusalem.