The Israeli military says the incident is “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is investigating a soldier who was photographed smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer.
The image, originally posted by Palestinian reporter Younis Tirawi on X, was widely shared online, raising concerns about potential damage to religious sites.
Tirawi said the incident took place in southern Lebanon, with a local community page confirming that the statue is located on the outskirts of the town of Dibil, a Christian municipality in the Bint Jbeil District near the border with Israel. The official Dibil town page shared a photograph of the statue alongside a biblical quote: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
In a statement on X on Sunday, the IDF confirmed the authenticity of the image, saying the incident was viewed “with great severity” and describing the soldier’s conduct as “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.”
“The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings,” the military said, adding that personnel are assisting the community in restoring the statue.
The IDF said it has “no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or symbols.”
The image sparked outrage online, with former US Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene sharing the post with the caption: “Our greatest ally that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year.” Former US lawmaker Matt Gaetz described the image as “horrific.”
Israel has struck several Christian sites during its campaign against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In 2023, Israeli aircraft bombed a building adjacent to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza’s oldest Christian shrine, killing 18 people. In 2025, shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell damaged Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave, killing three people.
