The Israeli army detained two of its soldiers for 30 days and decided to exclude them from military service and opened an investigation with others, after destroying a statue of Christ in the Christian town of Dibal, south of Lebanon. The same authority said that the damaged statue had been replaced in coordination with the local community, and another statue of Jesus crucified was erected.

Published on: 04/21/2026 - 22:23

The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it detained two soldiers for 30 days and excluded them from military service, against the backdrop of damaging a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon.

The decision comes after a wave of condemnation of a graphic video that spread online, the authenticity of which was confirmed by the army, showing a soldier using a sledgehammer to hit the head of a crucified Jesus statue that fell from its cross.

The statue is located in the Christian town of Dibal in southern Lebanon, near the border.

The army also indicated in the conclusion of its investigation that “the soldier who damaged the Christian symbol and the soldier who photographed the incident will be excluded from military service and will spend 30 days in military detention.” He added that he summoned six other soldiers who “were present and did not prevent or report the incident,” noting that they would undergo “explanatory sessions.”

The same statement said, “The investigation concluded that the behavior of the soldiers completely deviated from the orders and values ​​of the Israeli army,” adding that “its operations in Lebanon are directed only against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and other terrorist groups, and not against Lebanese civilians.”

In a post on the

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday: “I was shocked and saddened when I learned that an Israeli army soldier damaged a Catholic religious symbol in southern Lebanon.” He pledged to take "severe disciplinary measures" against those involved.

France 24/AFP

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