OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
9:14 AM – Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have been jailed after one allegedly used a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon as the other filmed, according to the IDF.
On Monday, an image circulated online showing an Israeli soldier in a Christian village in southern Lebanon striking the head of a crucified Jesus with a sledgehammer after it had fallen from its cross. Local media identified the village as Debel, an area near the Israeli border that has been occupied by the IDF for weeks.
Following an uproar from Christian communities around the world, the Israeli military verified that the photo was authentic and concluded that “the soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values.”
The IDF also said that it removed the two individuals from combat duty and sentenced them to 30 days in military prison for the offense.
According to some rights groups, this is a relatively rare punishment in the Israeli military. For example, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a London-based organization that records and investigates cases of armed violence against civilians, found in 2025 that Israel had closed or left unresolved 88% of cases of alleged misconduct in the Gaza area.
“The remaining troops who stood by have been summoned for clarification discussions that will be held later, after which further command-level measures will be determined,” the IDF said upon finding that six other troops were “present at the scene and did not act to stop the incident or report it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that he was “stunned and saddened” by the incident.
“As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths,” he wrote on X on Monday. “All religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region.”
He continued, “I condemn the act in the strongest terms.”
He also emphasized his country’s unique tolerance for the Christian faith in the region, noting that Islamic countries such as Syria and Lebanon, in contrast, persecute and “slaughter” Christians.
“Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all,” he stated. “We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.”
Israel’s army added that it was working with the community in Lebanon to “restore the statue to its place,” as well as “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.”
On Tuesday, the IDF reported that its Northern Command helped to replace the crucifix statue.
“The IDF expresses deep regret over the incident, and is working to ensure that it does not happen again in the future,” it reiterated.
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