Arabic version: صورة جندي يدمر تمثال يسوع تثير غضباً عالمياً

A viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon with a sledgehammer has sparked outrage. The image, which has garnered more than 5 million views on social media platform X, was confirmed by the Israeli military as authentic.

According to Al Jazeera, the military stated that the soldier was operating in southern Lebanon, where Israel last month launched a ground invasion in conjunction with aerial bombardment during its joint war with the United States on Iran. An investigation has been initiated, and the military has promised that appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.

Palestinian Knesset members have expressed their anger on social media. Ayman Odeh remarked sarcastically, suggesting that police might claim the soldier felt threatened by Jesus. Ahmad Tibi criticized the act, drawing parallels to previous incidents involving attacks on religious sites and highlighting the silence of the international community regarding such actions.

The statue, located on the outskirts of the village of Debl in southern Lebanon, has become a focal point for discussions about religious intolerance and violence in the region. Activists and academics have condemned the act, emphasizing the need for accountability and the dangers of unchecked aggression towards religious symbols.

Reports indicate that Israeli forces have frequently targeted religious sites during the conflict, with the Palestinian Authority noting numerous attacks on mosques in the occupied West Bank last year. The Religious Freedom Data Center has also documented at least 201 incidents of violence against Christians, primarily committed by Orthodox Jews targeting international clergy or individuals displaying Christian symbols, between January 2024 and September 2025. These developments underline the ongoing tensions surrounding religious freedoms in the region.