Outrage Erupts After Israeli Soldier Destroys Jesus Statue in Lebanon

Mon Apr 20 2026 17:27:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A viral image showing an Israeli soldier vandalizing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon has ignited widespread condemnation, prompting apologies from Israeli officials and calls for accountability.

An image of an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer on a statue of Jesus in Lebanon has sparked outrage globally, leading to apologies from Israeli leaders and a pledge to address the incident appropriately. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) condemned the act as inconsistent with military values, while local Christian leadership and U.S. officials expressed deep concern over the implications for religious tolerance.

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 said: 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) said 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, told the BBC: 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 came into force between Israel and Lebanon on Friday, pausing six weeks of fighting between the IDF and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in support of Iran two days after Israel and the US launched a war on Tehran.

Israel's military campaign started on March 2, resulting in over a million Lebanese displaced and more than 2,290 people killed, according to Lebanese authorities.

Polls indicate a recent drop in US support for Israel, with a Pew Research Center survey suggesting 60% of US adults have an unfavorable view of Israel.

Last month, there was an international outcry after Israeli police prevented the top Roman Catholic leader in Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a private mass on Palm Sunday. Israeli police stated this was due to safety concerns during the Iran war.

A 2025 report by the Rossing Center describes a recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity attributed to heightened political polarization.