Israeli army probes image of soldier striking Jesus statue in south Lebanon village

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has confirmed it is investigating an image circulating online that appears to show a soldier striking a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, prompting widespread condemnation and concern among religious communities.

The image, which spread rapidly across social media platforms on Sunday afternoon, appears to depict a uniformed soldier using a hammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen from a cross.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Sunday evening that the image had been verified as genuine and that a formal investigation had been initiated.

Military response and internal review

IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said on X that the army was initially examining the reliability of the photograph before confirming its authenticity.

In an official statement, the military described the conduct shown in the image as inconsistent with its standards.

“The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasises that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,” the statement said.

The military added that the matter is being investigated by its Northern Command and is being handled through the chain of command.

“Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings,” the statement said.

The IDF also indicated it would assist the affected community in restoring the statue to its original place.

Shoshani reiterated that if the image reflects a recent and verified incident, it would be subject to a thorough and in-depth investigation, with disciplinary steps taken if warranted.

Reports attributed to members of the Christian community in southern Lebanon suggested the incident may have taken place in the village of Debel, a Maronite Christian area located several kilometres from the Israeli border.

The village lies approximately six kilometres northwest and about five kilometres northeast of the Israeli border community of Shtula.

Arab media reports similarly identified Debel as the likely location of the statue.

However, the Debel municipality told AFP that while the statue was located within the village, officials could not confirm whether it had been damaged.

The lack of confirmation from local authorities has left key aspects of the incident unresolved, including the timing and exact circumstances under which the alleged act occurred.

Community reaction and calls for accountability

Wadie Abunassar, coordinator of the Christian Forum in the Holy Land, said he had received the image from multiple sources and urged that the matter be taken seriously.

“It is impossible to remain silent in the face of such violations,” he said, calling for verification of the incident and for formal complaints to be lodged if the act is confirmed.

Abunassar emphasised the importance of accountability, stating that any perpetrator should be brought to justice if evidence substantiates the claims.

The image has drawn strong reactions online, particularly among Christian communities, where it has been viewed as a potential act of religious desecration.

Broader conflict context

The incident comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Lebanon was drawn further into the regional conflict in early March when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in support of Iran.

Israel responded with extensive air strikes across Lebanon and subsequently launched a ground invasion in the south.

Despite a ceasefire that came into force on Friday, Israeli troops have remained deployed in parts of southern Lebanon.