Arabic version: الجيش الإسرائيلي يحقق مع جندي بسبب تدنيس تمثال العذراء مريم
Israel’s military has launched an investigation after a photo circulated online showing a soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The military said on Wednesday that it viewed the incident gravely and promised action against the soldier, according to Al Jazeera.
The photo, which surfaced online on Wednesday, shows the soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of the statue while smoking one himself. Reports indicate that the image was taken in the Christian-majority village of Debel several weeks ago. This incident is part of a troubling trend, as Israeli soldiers have previously been photographed damaging religious sites and property in southern Lebanon.
In addition to the desecration of the Virgin Mary statue, another soldier was photographed damaging a statue of Jesus in the same village. According to Lebanese media, Israeli troops have also bulldozed solar panels that supply electricity to the town’s water system and destroyed homes, roads, and olive trees in Debel.
These events coincide with an increase in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where military operations are claimed to target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. The ongoing destruction has raised concerns among Lebanese officials and residents about the future for those displaced by the conflict, with fears that they may have nowhere to return.
The treatment of Christians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has also come under scrutiny, with reports of rising harassment and violence against Christian clergy and pilgrims. Israeli authorities have been quick to condemn such incidents when they attract global attention, though experts note that accountability is often limited.
The recent Israeli military response to the desecration incidents, including the removal of soldiers from combat duty and sentencing, highlights a rare instance of disciplinary action within the military. However, there remains a broader context of violence and destruction that raises questions about the treatment of religious communities and the conduct of Israeli forces in conflict zones.
