Christian World | The Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa says vandals smashed statues and icons at a prayer hall in Nahariya, Israel, and urged police to arrest those responsible

ACW | November 2, 2026 — Unidentified people smashed statues and religious images at the Maronite prayer hall of Saints Peter and Paul in Nahariya, northern Israel, on Sunday, November 1, the Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa said.

Members of the community found the broken statues and damaged images when they arrived to pray on the Solemnity of All Saints, Vatican News reported. Nahariya, a city of about 60,000 people, lies near the Lebanese border.

In a statement, the archeparchy, led by Archbishop Moussa El-Hage, said "such acts can neither be justified nor tolerated." It called on the authorities and security services to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible and to protect the site.

The Church rejects answering evil with evil and sees forgiveness and the pursuit of justice as compatible, the archeparchy said, according to Vatican News. The community said it will keep praying at the hall while legal proceedings continue.

Father Rody Noura, the community's priest, told Israeli news site Ynet that the community has been in Nahariya for 26 years and nothing like this had happened before. Images of the Virgin Mary and St. Charbel were among the items damaged, Ynet reported.

Nahariya police opened an investigation after a complaint, Ynet said. The motive is unclear, and no arrests appeared in published reports.

Background: The prayer hall is in a municipal building and has no security cameras inside, according to Ynet. Noura said he forgives those responsible and does not suspect anyone.

Why it matters: The archeparchy said the attack was not only damage to Church property but a violation of the sacred character of a place of worship. Israel Police told Ynet it takes attacks on holy sites and on freedom of worship seriously.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Vatican News — Archeparchy of Haifa condemns attack on Maronite prayer hall in Nahariya; Ynet — Christian prayer hall vandalized in northern Israel

Photo: Ynet