The Israel Defense Forces confirmed a viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon is authentic and said it has opened an investigation. Palestinian lawmakers and activists condemned the act and accused authorities of insufficiently addressing attacks on religious sites. Official sources cite dozens of mosque attacks in the West Bank and more than 200 incidents targeting Christians between January 2024 and September 2025.
Viral Photo of Israeli Soldier Smashing Jesus Statue in Southern Lebanon Sparks Outrage
Israeli soldiers stand near the Israel-Lebanon border [File: Florion Goga/Reuters]
A widely shared photograph showing an Israeli soldier striking a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon has provoked widespread condemnation.
On Monday the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the image's authenticity after the photo circulated online and attracted more than 5 million views on X. The military said an initial review found the picture depicted an Israeli soldier "operating in southern Lebanon," a region where Israel recently carried out ground incursions and air strikes amid wider regional tensions involving Iran. The IDF said an investigation has been opened and that "appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings."
Political and public reaction
Palestinian lawmakers and rights activists responded swiftly on social media. Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian member of the Knesset, wrote sarcastically: "We’ll wait to hear the police spokesperson claim that ‘the soldier felt threatened by Jesus.’" Another Knesset member, Ahmad Tibi, said those who attack religious sites without consequence were emboldened to desecrate Christian symbols and post the acts online.
“When the Western world remains silent, racists go further,” Tibi wrote, reflecting broader frustration about what critics describe as muted international responses to attacks on religious sites.
Several activists, academics and writers publicly condemned the desecration. Reports said the statue stood on the outskirts of the village of Debl, near the border with Israel.
Context and related reports
The article notes recurring reports of attacks on religious sites during the recent conflict. According to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, settlers vandalised or attacked 45 mosques in the occupied West Bank last year. Separately, the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) recorded at least 201 incidents of violence against Christians between January 2024 and September 2025, including spitting, verbal abuse, vandalism and assaults; many of these incidents were reported in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The IDF investigation and any subsequent actions will be closely watched amid heightened tensions across the region and ongoing scrutiny of conduct by military forces and civilians during the conflict.
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