The IDF said Tuesday that two soldiers involved in damaging a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon have been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military detention, following an incident that drew international criticism.
The case occurred in the Christian village of Debel, where a soldier was filmed smashing the statue while another soldier photographed the act. The image later circulated widely on social media.
According to an internal inquiry, six additional soldiers were present but did not intervene or report the incident. The findings concluded that the soldiers’ conduct “completely deviated” from IDF orders and values.
The commander of the 162nd Division, Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan, accepted the findings and disciplinary recommendations. The two soldiers directly involved were removed from combat roles and jailed, while the other troops have been summoned for clarification hearings, with further measures to be determined.
The IDF said it “deeply regrets” the incident and stressed that operations in Lebanon are directed against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and other terrorist groups, not civilians. It added that Northern Command coordinated with local residents to install a new statue, which was placed at the site on Tuesday.
The incident sparked anger among Christian leaders. The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem condemned the act, with spokesperson Farid Jubran describing it as “deeply offensive” and humiliating.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the incident in English, saying he was “shocked and saddened” and condemning the act.
Military officials said procedures regarding conduct around religious sites and symbols had been reinforced and would be emphasized again following the incident.
The findings were presented to the chief of the General Staff, who condemned the incident as unacceptable and a moral failure that contradicts IDF values.