A group of Israeli settlers was captured on CCTV spitting toward the Shrine of the Virgin Mary opposite the Church of the Savior in the Bab al-Jadid area of occupied East Jerusalem.
The incident occurred on May 14, 2026, during the annual Flag March that marks the 1967 Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem. The procession draws thousands of participants who carry Israeli flags through the Old City streets.
Footage of the spitting was shared widely on May 16 and 17 by Middle East Eye and The National. The clips show several individuals turning toward the shrine and making the gesture as they passed.
Additional footage circulated alongside the shrine video depicts Israeli soldiers removing Palestinian residents from areas along the march route. The combined material has circulated rapidly on social media platforms.
Mario Nawfal, an X commentator and news host, posted about the event. He wrote that Israeli settlers were reportedly caught on camera spitting at a Virgin Mary shrine in Jerusalem during the Flag March.
The Flag March has taken place each year since 1967. Organizers describe it as a celebration of Israeli sovereignty over the united city. Critics, including Palestinian residents and some Christian leaders, view the route through the Muslim and Christian quarters as provocative.
Bab al-Jadid lies within the Old City walls near several historic Christian sites. The Shrine of the Virgin Mary in this location serves as a focal point for local worship and pilgrimage.
Reporters from Yeni Şafak also covered the event on May 17. Their reporting highlighted the desecration claims made by local observers who reviewed the CCTV material.
Jerusalem police have not issued a public statement confirming any arrests or investigations connected to the specific spitting incident shown in the circulated videos.
Christian communities in Jerusalem have expressed concern over repeated tensions during the march in recent years. Local clergy have called for better protection of religious sites along the procession route.
Israeli officials have previously stated that the Flag March remains a lawful expression of national identity. They have emphasized that security forces maintain order and prevent violence during the event.
Palestinian residents in the Old City report increased restrictions and temporary closures of streets and shops on the day of the march. Some describe the atmosphere as tense and intimidating.
The Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Bab al-Jadid features a small outdoor structure with religious icons that faces the street. Passersby can be seen in the footage glancing toward the site before the spitting gesture occurs.
Online reactions have included calls from Christian organizations for international monitoring of religious sites in East Jerusalem. Some posts have paired the shrine footage with images from previous years' marches.
The National published video clips showing both the spitting and the soldier activity on adjacent streets. The outlet noted that the material originated from local security cameras and eyewitness phones.
Middle East Eye reported that the incident took place as marchers moved through the narrow lanes of the Christian quarter. Their account included still images extracted from the CCTV feed.
No official Israeli government response to the specific May 14 footage had been released by May 17. Spokespersons referred general inquiries about the march to police statements on public order.
Local Christian leaders have documented similar gestures at the same shrine in past years. They argue that such acts contribute to a pattern of harassment during nationalist events.
The Flag March typically concludes with speeches and flag-waving near the Western Wall. This year the route again passed through Bab al-Jadid before reaching the Jewish quarter.
Video evidence shows the spitting occurring within seconds as a cluster of marchers moved past the shrine. The individuals involved did not stop or engage further with the site.
Residents who live above the shrine told reporters that they heard shouting and singing from the street below but did not witness the gesture directly until they reviewed the footage.
International Christian media outlets began picking up the story on May 17 after the initial Arabic and English language reports appeared. The rapid spread has prompted discussion about the protection of minority religious sites in Jerusalem.
Israeli security forces maintained a heavy presence along the entire march route. Armored vehicles and barriers were positioned at major intersections leading into the Old City.
The combination of the shrine footage and images of Palestinian evictions has been shared together in many posts, linking the two elements in public discourse about the day's events.
Further details about any disciplinary measures or internal reviews by Israeli authorities have not yet been made public as of the latest reports on May 17, 2026.
