A photograph shows a soldier smashing the face of a religious icon with a sledgehammer or the blunt side of an axe. The incident occurred in Debel, a Christian village located approximately 6 kilometres from Lebanon's border with Israel. Israeli authorities have confirmed the photograph's authenticity, and Israel has acknowledged and condemned the apparent desecration. The photograph appears to have been first posted on social media by Younis Tirawi, who describes himself as a Palestinian journalist, according to multiple reports.
The investigation concluded that the soldiers' conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values, the military said. Two Israeli soldiers have been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in jail after one used a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, while the other filmed him, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The investigation found that six other troops were present at the scene and did not act to stop the incident or report it, the IDF stated. The remaining troops who stood by have been summoned for clarification discussions, after which further command-level measures will be determined, according to the military.
The military added that procedures regarding conduct with religious institutions and symbols were reinforced to troops prior to their entry into the relevant areas, and will be reinforced again for all forces in the area following the incident. The Israeli military posted a photo on social media of a replacement crucifix, which appeared smaller but more ornate than the original statue smashed by the soldier, and said the sculpture was replaced by troops a short while ago, in full coordination with the local community. According to the Israeli military, it is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place.
The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops, according to the military. The IDF said the incident is being further investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken against those involved. The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols, the military stated.
Residents said the statue had stood on a crucifix outside a family home on the edge of Debel, one of the few villages where civilians have remained despite Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah. A local page from the Christian border town of Debel mentioned that the statue belonged to them, according to Younis Tirawi. Residents had largely remained in the village throughout the Israeli campaign in southern Lebanon, Reuters reported.
The desecration drew condemnation in Lebanon and internationally, including from figures linked to the Vatican, multiple reports indicate.
The incident comes amid a 10-day U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Israel invaded southern Lebanon and has attacked the country from the air after strikes by the country's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The Israeli operation has displaced more than 1 million people, and killed nearly 2,300, according to Lebanese officials.
This type of punishment is relatively rare in the Israeli military, according to rights groups. In 2025, the conflict-monitoring group Action on Armed Violence said it had found that Israel had closed down or left unresolved 88% of cases of alleged misconduct in Gaza and the West Bank. In a recent case, charges were dropped against soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Gaza detainee, multiple reports indicate.
The specific motive or intent behind the soldier's act of desecration remains unknown, as the IDF has not disclosed any reasons for the behavior. Further unknowns include how exactly the replacement crucifix was coordinated with the local community and what their response to it was, beyond the military's assertion of full coordination. The identities of the soldiers involved have not been publicly released by the IDF. It is also unclear what specific measures will be taken against the six bystander troops after their clarification discussions, as the military stated further command-level measures will be determined. The status of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon remains uncertain beyond its initial 10-day period, with no official updates provided on whether it has been extended or broken.