Two Israeli soldiers jailed for vandalizing Jesus statue in Lebanon

Two Israeli soldiers were sentenced to 30 days in military prison for vandalizing a statue of Jesus in the village of Debel, southern Lebanon. The incident, which occurred in April 2026, involved one soldier striking the statue with a sledgehammer while another filmed the act. An investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that six other soldiers present at the scene failed to stop or report the vandalism, leading to further disciplinary reviews. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly condemned the act as a moral failure and a violation of military values. The IDF issued a formal apology and stated that the soldier involved in the damage and the one who filmed it were removed from combat duties. The Israeli military has since worked with the local community to restore the religious icon. The incident sparked widespread condemnation, which the Israeli leadership addressed by emphasizing Israel's commitment to religious freedom.