Multiple Israeli leaders denounced an authenticated photo of an Israel Defense Forces soldier striking a Jesus statue in Lebanon with what appeared to be a sledgehammer.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the offender will be held accountable on Monday.
“Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon,” he posted on X. “I condemn the act in the strongest terms. Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender.”
The IDF verified the authenticity of the photo, depicting Jesus torn down from a cross, after a spokesperson said an investigation into the incident was underway on Sunday.
“The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,” the IDF said in a statement.
The Israeli military added that “appropriate measures” will be used to discipline the soldier seen in the photo. Furthermore, the IDF said it was working with the local community in Lebanon to restore the statue to its place and confirmed it does not intend to harm “religious buildings or religious symbols.”
Netanyahu said the blasphemous action doesn’t represent the entirety of Israel, which he noted is one of the few safe havens for Christians in the Middle East.
“While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria and Lebanon by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East,” he wrote. “Israel is the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all. We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.”
In a similar statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the incident was “grave and disgraceful” while thanking the IDF for taking action on the matter.
“This shameful action is completely contrary to our values,” Sa’ar wrote on social media. “Israel is a country that respects the different religions and their sacred symbols, and upholds tolerance and respect among faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”
The widely condemned act took place in Debel, a small village in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces have waged a military campaign against Hezbollah amid the broader Iran war. A local priest confirmed the crucifix was part of a small shrine in a family’s garden on the edge of the village.
“One of the Israeli soldiers broke the cross and did this horrible thing, this desecration of our holy symbols,” Father Fadi Felfle said, according to reports.
ISRAEL AND LEBANON, LED BY US, LOOK FOR NEW FUTURE DECOUPLED FROM IRANIAN INTERFERENCE
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire late last week, an agreement that President Donald Trump says includes Hezbollah. The Israeli military continued targeting the Iran-backed proxy after the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire went into effect this month.
That deal, mediated by Pakistan, is set to expire this week unless a breakthrough development results from the latest peace talks in Islamabad. Negotiations are currently stalled.