Israel Condemns Soldier for Desecrating Statue of Jesus Christ in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of a photograph showing one of its soldiers striking a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in the Christian village of Debel, southern Lebanon, triggering condemnations from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and international officials. The image, which circulated widely on social media over the weekend, shows a soldier using a large hammer to strike the head of a crucified Jesus figure that had fallen from its cross. Reuters verified the location of the image as Debel, a Maronite Christian village situated approximately five kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border. The photograph was first disseminated by Younis Tirawi, a Palestinian journalist who has previously posted images of alleged Israeli soldier misconduct in Gaza. The cross was part of a small shrine in the garden of a family living on the edge of the village, according to Fadi Falfel, a priest in Debel.

IDF opens investigation, pledges action against soldier The IDF stated that following a preliminary investigation, it confirmed the photograph depicted one of its soldiers serving in southern Lebanon. The military said it views the incident with "great severity" and that the soldier's conduct is "totally inconsistent with the values expected of its troops." The investigation has been handed to the IDF's Northern Command and is being handled through the chain of command. The army also stated that "appropriate measures will be taken against those responsible," without specifying further details. In addition to the investigation, the IDF said it is working with the community to restore the statue to its original place. Municipality officials in Debel confirmed to AFP that the statue was present in the village but said they could not confirm the full extent of the damage.

Netanyahu calls soldier a "criminal," Sa'ar apologizes to Christians Netanyahu said he was "shocked and saddened" upon learning that an IDF soldier had damaged a religious symbol in southern Lebanon and condemned the act in the strongest terms. „Yesterday, like most Israelis, I was shocked and saddened to learn that an Israel Defense Forces soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest possible terms.” — Benjamin Netanyahu via Notícias ao Minuto According to La Stampa, Netanyahu also called the soldier a "criminal" and said military authorities would act with the "utmost severity." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described the act as "grave and shameful" and issued a direct apology. „This shameful action is totally contrary to our values. Israel is a country that respects different religions and their sacred symbols, and promotes tolerance and mutual respect between faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian who felt hurt.” — Gideon Sa'ar via ANSA Sa'ar also said he was confident that "necessary severe measures" would be taken against whoever carried out what he called a "cowardly gesture." Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the incident as an "act of violence against Christians."

Priest describes occupation's toll on village life Debel is one of the few villages in southern Lebanon where residents remained through the Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah, which began after the group fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran, according to Reuters. The village sits among dozens of communities in southern Lebanon now under effective Israeli occupation. Priest Fadi Falfel described the broader hardship facing residents even after a ceasefire agreement was reached. „We have every kind of crisis. We thought the ceasefire would bring us some relief but we're still surrounded, unable to travel to and from the town. There are some houses on the edge of town that we're barred from accessing.” — Fadi Falfel via Reuters The incident drew sharp reactions from Israeli Arab members of the Knesset, with Ayman Odeh commenting sardonically that observers would "wait to hear the police spokesperson state that the soldier felt threatened by Jesus," according to La Stampa. Colleague Ahmad Tibi wrote on Facebook that soldiers who destroy religious symbols and publish the images do so with a sense of impunity, referencing documented incidents involving mosques and churches in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The episode drew attention to a broader pattern: according to La Stampa, settlers have vandalized or attacked 45 mosques in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Israeli forces have operated in southern Lebanon in multiple military campaigns over recent decades. The current campaign against Hezbollah began after the group launched rockets at Israel in support of Iran. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was agreed on Thursday, though Israeli troops have remained deployed in parts of southern Lebanon, including the area around Debel. The village's Christian population remained in place through the military campaign, making it one of the few inhabited communities in the conflict zone. Previous incidents involving Israeli soldiers and religious sites have been documented during the Gaza war and in Lebanon, including soldiers filming themselves inside a church in the village of Deir Mimas during the 2024 conflict.