An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier deployed in southern Lebanon has sparked outrage after being seen smashing a statue of Jesus Christ using a large hammer.
The act has been widely interpreted as a serious insult to the religious beliefs of many people in Lebanon, particularly Christians who believe that Jesus came to Earth to redeem humanity, was crucified, died, and later resurrected before ascending to heaven, as described in the New Testament of the Bible.
Most Jews, especially those living in Israel, do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Jewish teachings primarily follow the Old Testament and maintain the belief that the Messiah has not yet come.
On the night of April 19, 2026, the Israel Defense Forces stated that the soldier’s behavior does not reflect the institution’s values and confirmed that an investigation had been launched.
The military said that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against anyone involved once the investigation is completed.
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, also condemned the incident, describing the destruction of a Christian symbol as regrettable and emphasizing that Israel respects different religions and their sacred symbols.
“Israel respects different religions and their sacred symbols and believes in tolerance and mutual respect between faiths,” Sa’ar said, adding that the government apologizes to any Christian who may have been hurt by the act.
The Israel Defense Forces deployed troops to southern Lebanon to confront the armed group Hezbollah. The military stressed that it has no policy of destroying civilian property, including religious sites, and indicated that it would assist local residents in restoring the damaged statue.