Beirut – A viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon with a sledgehammer has sparked outrage worldwide.
The image was viewed more than 5 million times on X and ignited a broad debate about Western indifference to the destruction of religious symbols by Israeli soldiers and settlers.
The Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of the image and announced that an investigation had been launched.
„The actions do not align with the values of the army or the expected conduct of its soldiers,“ the military said in a statement. Appropriate measures would be taken „based on the findings“ — without providing further details on the soldier’s identity or possible disciplinary action. The statue was located on the outskirts of the village of Debl in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel.
Palestinian Lawmakers React Sharply
Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, responded with pointed sarcasm: „We’ll wait to hear the police spokesperson claim that the soldier felt threatened by Jesus.“
His colleague Ahmad Tibi wrote on Facebook that those who blow up mosques and churches in Gaza and spit on Christian clergy in Jerusalem — without punishment — have no hesitation in destroying a statue of Jesus Christ and publishing it online. „When the Western world remains silent, racists go further,“ Tibi said.
A Pattern of Destruction
The incident is not an isolated one. Israeli forces repeatedly attacked religious sites during the war on Gaza — including mosques and churches. In the occupied West Bank, settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques last year, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) documented at least 201 incidents of violence against Christians in Israel between January 2024 and September 2025 — predominantly carried out by Orthodox Jews targeting international clergy or individuals displaying Christian symbols.
The majority of these incidents — including spitting, verbal abuse, vandalism and physical assaults — took place in Jerusalem’s Old City, located in occupied East Jerusalem.
Conservative Christians Silent — While Christians in Israel Face Harassment
There is a striking discrepancy between rhetoric and reality: while conservative and radical Christians in the West frequently invoke a „Judeo-Christian partnership“ and offer unconditional support for Israel, Christians in Israel — particularly international clergy and pilgrims — are regularly harassed and attacked by radical settlers and parts of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Conservative American political commentator Candace Owens reacted on X with sharp criticism: „Which commentators will reliably lecture us about Judeo-Christian values?“ — a direct jab at Western conservatives who unconditionally support Israel while Israeli soldiers destroy Christian symbols.
A report by the Times of Israel recently documented a significant rise in attacks on Christians in Israel. The second annual report by the Rossing Center, cited by the Times of Israel, documented 111 anti-Christian incidents in 2024. An accompanying survey found that nearly half of Christians under the age of 30 are considering emigrating from Israel.
In connection with the report, the group also examined Christian attitudes toward issues such as identity, religious freedom, Israeli-Jewish society, the role of the church, and emigration.
The survey results showed that relations between the Christian community and the rest of the country are somewhat strained: one in three Christians feels unaccepted by their Jewish-Israeli fellow citizens and is considering leaving the country — a figure that rises to 48 percent among those under 30.
The IDF has confirmed this is real.
Which commentators will reliably lecture us about Judeo-Christian values on Monday? https://t.co/7yOEFac5gy— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 20, 2026
