SUNTV GLOBAL CHANNEL REPORT
The Israeli military has launched an official investigation after a disturbing photograph surfaced online showing an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.
According to reports by The Times of Israel, the Israeli army confirmed on Wednesday that it considers the incident “serious and unacceptable,” promising disciplinary action against the soldier involved.
Initial findings revealed that the incident occurred weeks ago in Debel, a Christian-majority village in southern Lebanon, although the image only recently went viral on social media. The controversial photo showed the soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of the Virgin Mary statue while smoking beside it.
The development has sparked outrage across Lebanon and among Christian communities worldwide, especially as it comes barely weeks after another Israeli soldier was reportedly filmed destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in the same village.
Local Lebanese media also accused Israeli troops of destroying vital civilian infrastructure in Debel, including solar panels powering the community’s water supply. Reports further claimed that homes, roads, and olive farms were damaged during military operations in the area.
Israeli forces have intensified military actions across Lebanon in recent months, saying the operations target Hezbollah positions and infrastructure. However, residents and local authorities fear that the widespread destruction could leave displaced civilians with nothing to return to after the conflict.
The incident has also renewed international concerns over alleged attacks and harassment targeting Christians within Israel and occupied Palestinian territories. Religious organisations have documented several cases involving violence against Christian worshippers, clerics, and pilgrims.
In one recent case near Jerusalem’s Old City, a French nun was violently assaulted by a man captured on video pushing her to the ground and kicking her before passersby intervened. Israeli police later confirmed the arrest of a 36-year-old suspect after the footage triggered widespread condemnation.
Following earlier backlash over the destruction of the Jesus statue in Debel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office publicly condemned the act. The soldiers involved in that case were reportedly removed from combat operations and sentenced to 30 days imprisonment.
Meanwhile, rights groups continue to raise alarm over damage to religious sites during the Gaza conflict, including the historic Great Omari Mosque and the Saint Porphyrius Church.
