Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon village

Two Israeli soldiers were sentenced to 30 days in military prison and removed from combat duty after one used a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in a Christian village in southern Lebanon, near the Israeli border, while the other filmed. The incident, which occurred during Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, sparked outrage among Christian communities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an investigation, finding the soldiers' conduct violated IDF orders and values. Six other soldiers present at the scene who did not intervene will face disciplinary action. The IDF replaced the statue in coordination with the local community and reinforced procedures regarding conduct with religious institutions. The Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed their dismay and issued apologies.

Israeli soldiers were punished for vandalizing a Jesus statue in Debel, a village in southern Lebanon. The incident, which involved desecration of a religious symbol, was condemned by local religious leaders who cited previous similar occurrences. The vandalism took place during a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, following weeks of conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the statue was replaced and that the soldiers involved were disciplined. The ceasefire, brokered by the US, came after fighting that began when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following a war launched by Israel and the US on Tehran. Thousands of Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.