LAST UPDATE | 20 Apr

ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is “stunned and saddened” after an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus in Lebanon.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that an image circulating on social media showing a soldier in south Lebanon hitting a statue of Jesus Christ is authentic and depicts one of its troops.

Lebanon |

An Israeli soldier smashing the head of a Jesus Christ statue during operations in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/Sj1m16tj9q

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) April 19, 2026

The image appears to show an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off of a cross.

Arab media reports indicated that the statue was in the Christian village of Debl in south Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

The Debl municipality told AFP that the statue was located in the village, but could not confirm whether it had been damaged.

In a statement on social media, Netanyahy said “all religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region”.

As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths. All religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region.

Yesterday, like the…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 20, 2026

“Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon,” said Netanyahu.

He said he condemned the act “in the strongest terms”.

He added that military authorities are “conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender”.

Netanyahu also claimed that that “Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East”.

“We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world,” said Netanyahu.

The IDF meanwhile said it viewed the incident with “great severity”, adding that the “soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.

The IDF confirmed that the photograph depicts one of its soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.

Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.

The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026

It added that the incident is being investigated and is currently being “addressed through the chain of command”.

The IDF said that “appropriate measures will be taken against those involved” but did not go into further detail.

The Israel army said it is working with the community to “restore the statue to its place”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar meanwhile condemned what he called a “shameful and disgraceful” act.

The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful.

I commend the IDF for its statement,
for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter. I’m confident that the necessary strict measures…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 20, 2026

“I am confident that necessary severe measures will be taken against whoever committed this ugly act,” he wrote on X.

“We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war in early March when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in support of Iran.

Israel responded with massive strikes across the country and an invasion of the south.

Israeli troops have remained in the area despite a ceasefire between the two countries that entered into force on Friday.

-With additional reporting from © AFP 2026