Israeli soldier vandalises Jesus Christ statue in Lebanon, military vows action

An image of an Israeli soldier vandalising a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon is going viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage and debate over its authenticity. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) initially said it was examining the reliability of the photograph, but later confirmed that the image does depict an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.

The photograph was first shared by Palestinian reporter Younis Tirawi on his official X account. Tirawi said that the image was taken in the Christian town of Debel and showed an Israeli soldier damaging the statue. He also referenced an earlier image of the statue before it was vandalised, accompanied by the biblical quote: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).”

The image quickly sparked strong reactions online. Social media users condemned the act, calling it disrespectful and inflammatory. “You don't have to be Christian to see what this represents: disrespect, dehumanisation, and impunity,” one user wrote, while another said, “This guy literally had to go out of his way to do this. Disgusting.” Others questioned the timing of the damage, contrasting it with previous control of the area, and criticised perceived silence from political leaders and supporters.

Responding to the viral post, IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani initially said the military was verifying the image. “If this is indeed a real, recent picture, these actions do not align with the IDF's values and the behaviour expected of IDF soldiers,” he stated, adding that the matter would be investigated thoroughly.

In a subsequent update posted on X, the IDF confirmed that an initial examination found the photograph to be authentic and that it shows an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol in southern Lebanon. The military said it views the incident with “great severity” and stressed that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with its values.

The IDF said the case is now under investigation by the Northern Command and is being handled through the chain of command. It added that appropriate measures will be taken against those involved based on the findings.

The military also said that it is working to assist the local community in restoring the damaged statue. It reiterated that its operations in southern Lebanon are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure and that it has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or symbols.

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