Israel jails two soldiers over jesus statue vandalism

The Israeli military announced that two soldiers involved in the vandalism of a Jesus statue in Lebanon will be jailed for one month and suspended from combat duty.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on 21/4 the results of an investigation into a soldier's "vandalism of a Christian symbol in southern Lebanon," stating that this soldier and the one who photographed the act would be removed from combat duty and detained for 30 days.

The IDF added that six soldiers who were present at the scene and neither reported nor acted to prevent it have been summoned for further clarification regarding the incident.

"The investigation determined that the soldiers' conduct completely deviated from the IDF's orders and values," the Israeli military stated, adding that the force's mission is solely to combat Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon, not to target local residents.

The IDF stated that it cooperated with the local community to replace the statue damaged by Israeli soldiers and posted photos as proof.

The statue used to replace the one damaged by Israeli soldiers in a photo posted on 21/4. *Photo: IDF*.

This action followed the emergence of images on social media showing an Israeli soldier using a hammer to smash a statue of Jesus, which was upside down and separated from its cross. The incident occurred in the village of Debel, a predominantly Christian community in southern Lebanon, and sparked a wave of criticism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 21/4 expressed "shock and sorrow upon learning that an IDF soldier had damaged a Christian symbol in southern Lebanon," and pledged strict disciplinary action against the soldier who committed this act.

Conflict in Lebanon reignited in early March, after the armed group Hezbollah launched rockets into Israeli territory in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the Middle East conflict. Israel responded with large-scale attacks across Lebanon and deployed troops into its southern neighbor.

Israeli soldiers remain stationed in this area despite a ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Beirut having taken effect on 17/4.

The conflict has resulted in over 2,400 deaths and approximately one million displaced people in Lebanon. The Israeli military has lost 15 soldiers since the start of the conflict.