A damaged grave is seen in a cemetery near the Old City of Jerusalem, after two teens were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing and damaging the graveyard, on July 11, 2025. (Israel Police)
Two youths were arrested on Thursday for vandalizing tombstones and graves at a cemetery near Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel Police said in a statement.
The graveyard vandalized was the Muslim al-Yusufiyah cemetery, located near Lion’s Gate of the Old City, according to Palestinian media reports.
Surveillance operators saw the vandalism occurring on security cameras, and officers were sent to the scene, the statement said.
The surveillance team then directed the officers toward the suspects, two 14-year-old boys, who were subsequently arrested.
The suspects were taken into questioning and will be brought before a court on Friday.
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The police said they intend to pursue the full extent of the law against the two youths.
A damaged grave is seen in a cemetery near the Old City of Jerusalem, after two teens were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing and damaging the graveyard, on July 11, 2025. (Israel Police)
Anti-Arab vandalism by Jewish extremists has become a common occurrence in the West Bank, though rarer within Israel.
Arrests of perpetrators are exceedingly rare and rights groups lament that convictions are even more unusual, with the majority of charges in such cases being dropped.
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