Israeli Soldier Smashes Jesus Christ Statue in Debel, Lebanon, IDF Confirms Image

A viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of “Jesus Christ” with a hammer in southern Lebanon triggered worldwide outrage and a rapid official response from the Israeli military.

“A viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon with a sledgehammer has sparked outrage”

Al Jazeera

In the account published by Al-Jazeera Net, the image was described as showing the statue after it had been taken down from its place in “one of the villages in southern Lebanon,” and it was posted by activist يونس الطيراوي after it was spotted on accounts of Israeli soldiers taking part in ground operations inside Lebanese territory.

Al Jazeera

Al-Jazeera Net said the image “gained wide circulation, surpassing 4 million views in a short time on its source account,” along with “tens of thousands of comments.”

Al Jazeera reported that the photograph showed an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon with a sledgehammer, and said it sparked outrage after it “garnering more than 5 million views on X.”

The Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of the image in a statement on Monday, and said that after an initial review it was determined that the photograph showed an Israeli soldier “operating in southern Lebanon.”

Multiple outlets tied the incident to the Christian village of Debel/Debl in southern Lebanon, including Al Jazeera, which said the statue was “located on the outskirts of the village of Debl in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel,” and The Times of Israel, which said the picture was taken in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon.

Alongside the viral spread, Israeli officials moved from initial doubt to confirmation and an investigation, according to the accounts in multiple outlets.

Al-Jazeera Net said the Israeli army acknowledged that “one of its soldiers smashed the statue of 'Jesus Christ' in southern Lebanon,” and explained that after completing “the initial examination of the image circulating of a soldier touching a Christian symbol,” it turned out to be “a real recording of a soldier in the Israeli army who operated in the southern Lebanon region.”

Al-Jazeera Net

The Israeli army, as quoted by Al-Jazeera Net, said it “regards this incident with the utmost seriousness,” and that the soldier’s conduct “completely deviates from the values expected of its soldiers.”

Al Jazeera similarly reported that in a statement on Monday the Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of the image and said that “following an initial review, it was determined that the photograph showed an Israeli soldier “operating in southern Lebanon.””

Al Jazeera added that the military said “an investigation had been opened” and that “appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.”

The Times of Israel described the same chain of command posture, saying the incident was being investigated by the Northern Command and handled “through the chain of command,” with “appropriate measures” to follow the findings.

The photo’s confirmation by the Israeli military did not end the controversy; it instead intensified reactions from Palestinian lawmakers, writers, and activists who framed the act as part of a broader pattern of religious desecration.

“Israeli soldier filmed smashing Jesus statue in southern Lebanon: Report Army claims it will investigate the incident after video surfaces from village of Deir Siryan Said Amori 20 April 2026•Update: 20 April 2026 JERUSALEM An Israeli soldier was filmed smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in the southern Lebanese town of Deir Siryan, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Sunday”

Anadolu Ajansı

Al Jazeera quoted Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian member of the Israeli parliament, writing: “We’ll wait to hear the police spokesperson claim that ‘the soldier felt threatened by Jesus’.”

Al Jazeera also quoted Ahmad Tibi, another Palestinian member of the Knesset, saying on Facebook that those who “blow up mosques and churches in Gaza and spit on Christian clergy in Jerusalem without punishment are not afraid to destroy a statue of Jesus Christ and publish it.”

In the same Al Jazeera report, Tibi asked: “Perhaps these racists have also learned from Donald Trump to insult Jesus Christ and insult Pope Leo?”

Al-Jazeera Net, meanwhile, described commentary from multiple named figures, including writer رايان غريم, who said Israeli soldiers “continued to publish photos documenting their war crimes and their cultural desecration for two and a half years without interruption.”

Al-Jazeera Net also quoted activist تامر قديح linking the incident to Israeli propaganda, saying Israel claimed through the media that it allowed aid to the besieged village of Dibl through the organization 'محفظة السامري'.

While most reports converged on the authenticity of the image and the general setting in southern Lebanon, they diverged on specific village naming and some contextual framing.

Al Jazeera said the statue was located on the outskirts of the village of Debl in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, while The Times of Israel said the picture was taken in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon and added that the IDF had operated against Hezbollah in the area surrounding the community.

Haaretz

International Business Times UK described the statue as belonging to the Christian town of Debel and said the image was originally posted by Palestinian reporter Younis Tirawi on his official X account, while also quoting a Luke 23:34 line in a page remark: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)'.

Anadolu Ajansı reported that Haaretz said the incident was documented in a video showing the soldier destroying the statue inside the town of Deir Siryan, and it said the Israeli army claimed the actions “do not align with the values of the army or the expected conduct of its soldiers.”

Israel National News described the video as showing a soldier in the village of Deir Saryan in southern Lebanon, located in the eastern sector, and said Deir Saryan is “currently under IDF control as part of ongoing ground operations aimed at dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.”

NDTV described the image as appearing to show a soldier in south Lebanon hitting a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer and said Arab media reports indicated the statue was in the Christian village of Debl in south Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

The incident was reported against the backdrop of Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon and ongoing fighting, with outlets linking the statue episode to broader scrutiny of soldier behavior and religious sites.

“A shocking image of an Israeli soldier vandalising a statue of Jesus Christ in South Lebanon has gone viral”

International Business Times UK

Anadolu Ajansı said that since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 2,294 people, wounded 7,544, and displaced more than 1 million, citing official figures, and it also reported that US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon as of midnight Friday following calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

International Business Times UK

The Times of Israel added that the photo circulated “days into a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah,” and it said the ceasefire entered a 10-day period on Friday, while IDF troops were still operating throughout southern Lebanon.

The Times of Israel also described a wider pattern of footage “destroying or looting property,” and it connected the incident to “recent tensions between the Israeli government and Christian leaders in Jerusalem,” including a March episode when police stopped Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo from praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday.

For the immediate next steps, the Israeli military said the incident is under investigation by the Northern Command and will be handled through the chain of command, with “appropriate measures” to be taken, and it also said it would assist the Christian community in restoring the statue.

The Jerusalem Post added a Christian community reaction through Christian Forum coordinator Wadie Abunassar, who said: “It is impossible to remain silent in the face of such violations,” and urged that complaints be filed “to bring the perpetrator to justice.”