Israel’s military is investigating after a photograph emerged showing a soldier placing a cigarette into a Virgin Mary statue’s mouth in Debel, southern Lebanon. The army called the episode "grave" and pledged disciplinary measures; the photo was taken weeks earlier but only recently circulated online. The incident follows other allegations of damage to religious sites and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon and comes amid broader concerns about harassment of Christians in the region. Officials have at times responded quickly after public outcry, though observers say prosecutions are rare.
Israeli Military Opens Probe After Photo Shows Soldier Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue In Debel
Israel’s military has opened an investigation after a photograph circulated online showing an Israeli soldier placing a lit cigarette into the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in Debel, a predominantly Christian village in southern Lebanon.
Military Response
The Israeli army said on Wednesday it regarded the episode as "grave" and pledged disciplinary measures, according to The Times of Israel. An initial inquiry concluded the image was taken several weeks earlier in Debel, though it only surfaced online recently.
What the Photo Shows
The widely shared image appears to show a soldier inserting a cigarette into the statue’s mouth while holding another cigarette. The post has drawn condemnation from local residents and religious leaders.
Related Incidents In Debel And Southern Lebanon
The episode follows other allegations involving Israeli troops in Debel, including a previously published photograph of a soldier damaging a statue of Jesus. Lebanese media have also reported that Israeli forces bulldozed solar panels that supplied electricity for the town’s water system and damaged homes, roads and olive trees.
Wider Context
The reports come as Israeli forces have stepped up strikes in Lebanon, including near Beirut, saying they are targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. Troops continue to operate across parts of southern Lebanon, and local officials say the scale of destruction has left many displaced residents worried about returning home.
Concerns About Treatment Of Christians
Concerns have also risen about harassment and violence targeting Christians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Religious organisations and media accounts say there has been an uptick in assaults and verbal abuse aimed at Christian pilgrims, clergy and Palestinian Christian residents, sometimes attributed to ultra‑Orthodox individuals. One widely circulated video showed a man pushing a French nun near Jerusalem’s Old City, then returning to kick her before bystanders intervened; Israeli police later said they had arrested a 36‑year‑old suspect in that case.
Official Responses And Accountability
Israeli officials have at times issued swift condemnations after incidents draw international attention. After public outcry over a separate incident in Debel in which two soldiers damaged a statue of Jesus — one reportedly using a sledgehammer while another filmed — the soldiers were removed from combat duty and given 30‑day jail terms, the prime minister’s office said.
Observers note that formal military discipline in such cases is relatively rare, and prosecutions of Israeli soldiers for killings of Palestinians have been infrequent in recent years.
Human Cost Cited
Reports cited in coverage of the incident also reference the wider human cost of the conflicts in the region: international and local sources report tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza and thousands more elsewhere, including the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank in 2022. Media and humanitarian organizations have also reported extensive damage to religious sites in Gaza, including the destruction of dozens—if not hundreds—of mosques and damage to historic churches.
The investigation by the Israeli military is ongoing, and officials have said they will take action depending on its findings.
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