Israeli officials are speaking out after a disturbing image from southern Lebanon began circulating widely over the weekend. The photo shows an Israeli soldier striking the face of a fallen statue of Jesus with the blunt side of an axe, according to NBC News.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the act, saying he condemns it in the strongest possible terms. In a post on X, he said the image left him shocked and deeply saddened.
The Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of the photograph and stated that the soldier’s actions do not reflect the values of the armed forces. Military officials announced that an investigation has been launched and said efforts would be made to repair and restore the damaged statue.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also responded publicly, writing on X that the situation requires swift, serious, and visible consequences.
A priest from the Christian border town of Debel in southern Lebanon told Reuters that the statue had been placed in a private family garden. He described its destruction as a desecration.
The incident comes at a sensitive moment, as a ceasefire brokered by the United States remains in place while Israel continues a broader military campaign in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities say the conflict has resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths and forced more than one million people to leave their homes.