Israeli army jails two soldiers for smashing head of Jesus statue in southern Lebanon
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Two Israeli soldiers will face 30 days of military detention and be removed from combat duty after a soldier was seen destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
- The incident, involving a soldier striking the head of a crucified Jesus statue with a sledgehammer, occurred in the Christian village of Debl near the Israel-Lebanon border and sparked widespread condemnation.
- Six additional soldiers present at the scene who did not intervene or report the act are being questioned, while the military emphasized that the soldiers' actions violated IDF orders and values.
- The Israeli military replaced the damaged statue in coordination with the local community and reiterated that its operations in Lebanon target Hezbollah and terrorist groups, not Lebanese civilians.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed shock and sadness over the incident and promised strict disciplinary measures against those responsible.
