The incident occurred in Debel, a village in southern Lebanon that Reuters verified as the location. Debel is one of the few villages in the region where residents have remained amidst an Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah. The cross was part of a small shrine situated in the garden of a family residing on the edge of the village.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the soldier's actions were disgraceful and shameful. The Israeli military said the incident is being investigated and that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
The Israeli military is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place. Israeli military officials say they are working with aid agencies to meet the humanitarian needs of Debel and other villages.
We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.
The Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon began on 2 March, following Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel in support of Iran. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Thursday intended to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceasefire remains fragile, with Israeli troops occupying territory deep in the south, aiming to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attack.
Hezbollah says it maintains the 'right to resist' Israeli occupation. On Monday, the Israeli military told residents of south Lebanon to stay out of a belt of territory running the length of the border and not to approach the area of the Litani River. The Israeli military's order entrenches its grip over southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah.
The photograph of the desecration was posted by Palestinian reporter Younis Tirawi, who has previously shared images alleging misconduct by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.