The Israeli military has announced disciplinary action against two soldiers after they were found to have deliberately damaged a statue of Jesus Christ during an operation in southern Lebanon, an incident that sparked widespread outrage after images circulated online.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the soldiers involved will each serve 30 days of military detention and be removed from their combat roles. The decision follows an internal investigation into the incident, which was widely condemned by political and religious figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed shock and sorrow over the event.
The incident reportedly took place in the southern Lebanese village of Debl, near the Israeli border. A photograph shared on social media showed a soldier striking a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with a large hammer, an act that quickly drew strong criticism from around the world.
The IDF stated that the conduct of the soldiers “fully contradicts the orders and values” of the Israeli military. In addition to the two main individuals involved, six other soldiers who were present at the scene but did not intervene or report the incident have also been questioned as part of the investigation.
Military officials stressed that operations in Lebanon are directed solely at militant groups and not civilians. In an effort to defuse tensions, the IDF said it had coordinated with local representatives to replace the damaged statue and published images of the restored monument.
The case has added to growing scrutiny of military conduct in the region, highlighting the sensitivity of religious sites and symbols amid ongoing cross-border tensions.
