Two IDF soldiers are arrested after attack on statue of Jesus with an axe in Lebanon

By ADAM POGRUND, REPORTER and IMOGEN GARFINKEL - SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:18, 22 April 2026 | Updated: 00:18, 22 April 2026 Two Israeli soldiers have been arrested for decapitating a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in Lebanon. The soldier who hit the statue and the other who photographed the attack will spend 30 days in military detention, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. They will be 'removed from combat duty' following an inquiry into the incident, which took place in the Christian village of Debel. Six soldiers who failed to report the act will be dealt with separately, the IDF added. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whose forces had been on operations against Hezbollah, apologised for 'any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world'.  The IDF also confirmed it is working to 'restore the statue to its place'. But Adeeb Joudeh Al Husseini, the custodian of the keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, said: 'This is not a passing incident. It is a direct violation of a sanctity that goes beyond stone and wood to strike at the dignity of faith itself.' It comes after the Israeli military earlier said it viewed the incident with 'great severity' and that 'the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops'. Two Israeli soldiers have been arrested for decapitating a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in Lebanon  The image, taken in Debl, a Christian village in south Lebanon near the border with Israel, showed the soldier hitting the statue with what appeared to be the butt of a heavy-duty maul axe. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East crisis in early March when the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in support of the Islamic Republic. Israel responded with a bombing campaign across Lebanon and an invasion of the south, where the IDF has remained despite a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries. Following the circulation of the photograph, the Israeli military earlier said the incident was being investigated by the Northern Command and that the 'IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue'. 'Accordingly, it was decided that the soldier who damaged the Christian symbol and the soldier who photographed the act will be removed from combat duty and will receive 30 days of military detention,' a statement said. Six additional soldiers were present at the scene and did not act to stop the incident or report it, the military said. These troops, 'who stood by have been summoned for clarification discussions that will be held later on, after which further command-level measures will be determined'. 'The IDF expresses deep regret over the incident and emphasizes that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and other terrorist groups, and not against Lebanese civilians,' the Israeli army said. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, criticised what he called a 'shameful and disgraceful' act. 'I am confident that necessary severe measures will be taken against whoever committed this ugly act,' he wrote on X. 'We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,' he added. A woman surveys the damage of her home that was destroyed by an Israeli air-strike that killed seven of her neighbors in Nabatieh on the second day of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, on April 18 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the behaviour in a lengthy post on X, writing: 'As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths. 'All religions flourish in our land, and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region. Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. 'I condemn the act in the strongest terms. Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender.' US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a staunch Christian, said Israel must take action against the 'outrageous act'. Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in the southern, claiming Hezbollah's activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week. Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts of southern Lebanon since the truce between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday. Since the ceasefire began, Lebanon's armed forces have reopened a key road linking the southern city of Nabatiyeh with the Khardali area after it was closed due to Israeli strikes. They have also partially restored access to the Burj Rahal-Tyre bridge, which was damaged due to Israeli attacks. But the Israeli military on Monday urged civilians to avoid returning to numerous villages in the south. The comments below have not been moderated. 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