An image of an Israeli soldier apparently hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon has prompted widespread condemnation after being widely shared online.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was 'stunned and saddened' by what happened. Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, stated: 'We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.'
Locals mention that the statue was on a crucifix outside a family home in Debel, one of the few villages where residents remain during Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
The head of Debel's congregation, Father Fadi Flaifel, articulated strong disapproval, stating: 'We totally reject the desecration of the cross, our sacred symbol, and all religious symbols. It goes against the declaration of human rights and does not reflect civility.'
He claimed similar incidents had occurred previously.
The Israeli military confirmed the image circulating on social media was authentic and viewed the incident 'with great severity,' emphasizing that the soldier's actions were inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
They stated that 'appropriate measures' would be taken against those involved and that they were working with the Christian community to restore the statue.
Thousands of Israeli troops continue to occupy southern Lebanon following a US-brokered ceasefire that has paused six weeks of fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.
The ceasefire was implemented on Friday, though both sides have reported violations.
The vandalism of the statue has exacerbated ongoing tensions, with US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, calling for 'swift, severe, & public consequences' for the soldier's actions.
Calls of outrage also came from various US political figures, including former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Recent polling indicates a declining support for Israel in the US, with a Pew Research Center survey revealing 60% of adults view Israel unfavorably, an increase from 53% last year.
This incident follows other recent controversies involving restrictions on Christian leaders in Jerusalem, indicating a troubling trend of rising animosity towards Christianity amid heightened nationalist sentiments.
Netanyahu's statements tried to underscore the thriving condition of the Christian population in Israel compared to other Middle Eastern countries.
Since the conflict increased in intensity, over a million Lebanese people have been displaced, with significant casualties reported on both sides.
