According to a report by the Times of Israel on Tuesday 21 April, 2026, the Israeli military says it has disciplined two soldiers involved in the destruction of a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, an incident that sparked outrage and prompted an internal investigation.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the soldier who carried out the act – smashing the statue with a sledgehammer – along with another who documented it, have both been removed from combat roles and handed 30-day prison sentences. The episode, which unfolded in the Christian village of Debel, quickly drew attention after images surfaced online.
Not long after, troops installed a replacement statue, coordinating the move with local residents. The army said it acted swiftly once the incident was reported, expressing regret and stressing that steps are being taken to prevent anything similar from happening again.
But the investigation didn’t stop with the two soldiers. It found that several others were present and failed to intervene or report what was happening. Those individuals are now facing further review, with possible disciplinary action still on the table.
Military officials described the behavior as a clear breach of standards, saying it ran counter to the values expected of soldiers. Senior commanders, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, were briefed on the findings. Zamir, the army said, strongly condemned the incident and characterized it as a serious moral lapse.
In response, the military has begun reinforcing guidelines on how troops should handle religious sites and symbols, especially in sensitive areas like southern Lebanon. The hope, officials say, is that tightening those rules – and actually enforcing them – will keep such incidents from recurring.