By Adesakin Adefemi
Israel’s army on Monday confirmed the authenticity of an image circulating online that shows one of its soldiers striking a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon.
The military said an initial examination determined the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in the border area.
The image appears to show the soldier hitting the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen from its cross. Local officials said the sculpture is located in Debl, a Christian village in south Lebanon near the Israeli border. The municipality told AFP it could not immediately confirm whether the statue had been damaged.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the Israel Defence Forces said it views the incident with “great severity.” The army added that the “soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops” and stressed that the act does not reflect military policy.
The Northern Command has launched an investigation into the incident, according to the statement. The case is being “addressed through the chain of command,” and the army said “appropriate measures will be taken against those involved.” No further details on disciplinary action were disclosed.
The IDF said it is working with the local community to “restore the statue to its place.” The statement did not provide a timeline for restoration or specify whether compensation would be offered for any damage to the religious site.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the act in a separate post on X, calling it “shameful and disgraceful.” He said he was confident that “necessary severe measures will be taken against whoever committed this ugly act.”
Saar also issued a public apology to Christians offended by the incident. “We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,” he wrote. The Foreign Ministry did not announce additional diplomatic steps beyond the statement.
Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East conflict in early March when Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, launched rockets toward Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with widespread airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground operation in the south.
Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on Friday, Israeli troops have remained in southern Lebanon. The army’s confirmation and the Foreign Minister’s apology come as both governments face pressure over military conduct in the border region.
