There has been widespread condemnation after an image of an Israeli soldier apparently hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon went viral.
Israel's prime minister said he was stunned and saddened. Its foreign minister stated: We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.
Locals say the statue was on a crucifix outside a family home on the edge of Debel, one of the few villages where residents have remained during Israel's war with Hezbollah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it viewed the incident with great severity and emphasises that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
The head of Debel's congregation, Father Fadi Flaifel, expressed, We totally reject the desecration of the cross, our sacred symbol, and all religious symbols. It goes against the declaration of human rights, and it doesn't reflect civility. He claimed similar acts had happened before.
The IDF said appropriate measures will be taken against those involved and that it was working with the Christian community to restore the statue to its place.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, responded on X that swift, severe, & public consequences are needed.
Thousands of Israeli troops continue to occupy a wide area of southern Lebanon after a US-brokered ceasefire aimed at halting six weeks of fighting between the IDF and the Shia Muslim armed group Hezbollah.
The IDF has outlined a forward defence area to deter Hezbollah from launching attacks on northern Israel, while both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations.
As the tensions escalate, the incident with the statue captures a boiling point of frustration, leading to significant fallout in public perception and diplomatic relations.
