The Israeli soldier who hit a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in Lebanon and the soldier who photographed the incident will receive 30 days of military detention, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said.
The IDF also stated that the two unnamed soldiers would be removed from combat duty following an inquiry. Another six soldiers present during the incident, who failed to intervene or report the act, will be dealt with separately.
This incident, which took place in the village of Debel in southern Lebanon, provoked widespread condemnation after images were shared online. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed being stunned and saddened by the incident.
In a statement, the IDF confirmed that their analysis identified a significant deviation from military orders and values, expressing deep regret over the incident. The IDF has since stated that it had replaced the damaged statue in full coordination with the local community.
The IDF emphasized that its operations in Lebanon are targeted specifically against Hezbollah and not against civilians.
Local sentiment against the vandalism was echoed by Father Fadi Flaifel, the head of Debel's congregation, who condemned the act as an affront to religious symbols, contradicting human rights declarations.
The incident drew condemnation from various figures, including the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, who called for swift, severe, and public consequences. Netanyahu also expressed regret for any pain the actions may have caused believers worldwide.
Thousands of Israeli troops are still stationed in southern Lebanon following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire after six weeks of conflict with Hezbollah, during which significant civilian casualties have been reported.
