A nine-year-old Christian boy from Jerusalem’s Armenian community was reportedly assaulted after riding his bicycle during Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. According to Israeli media reports, the incident occurred near the Old City last weekend when the child was confronted by a group described as Jewish extremists.

The boy, identified as William, was wearing headphones while cycling when the group demanded he remove them. After he complied, witnesses say the assailants reacted negatively upon hearing him speak English, allegedly shouting “No English, Jews” before using pepper spray against him. Video footage taken shortly after the incident shows William in an ambulance appearing distressed and confused.

This event adds to a series of tensions involving Christian communities in Jerusalem. Earlier this year, on Palm Sunday, police reportedly blocked senior Catholic clergy from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a significant Christian holy site, which led to diplomatic protests.

The assault on William surfaced on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, stating that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing and thriving.

Despite the existence of CCTV footage linked to the incident, police have reportedly closed the investigation without making any arrests. Authorities have not provided further comment on the matter.