On April 19, a photo went viral showing an IDF soldier, the Israeli armed forces, destroying a statue representing Jesus Christ on the cross. After a few hours, Tsahal confirmed the authenticity of the shot and guaranteed that the “accident” will be punished.
I face it
At first the image circulated online without anyone being certain of its authenticity. The photo was taken from a video where a man films what remains of the statue. The soldier’s gesture sparked harsh criticism on social media and attacks on the Israeli armed forces.
Subsequent journalistic checks established that the damaged statue is located in Debel, south of the Litani River, in Lebanon. The destroyed work was located on private property in the village and belonged to one of the families of the Maronite community.
The IDF confirmed the reconstruction spread by the media: “Following the completion of an initial examination relating to a photograph published earlier today (April 19, ed.) showing an IDF soldier damaging a Christian symbol, it was established that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier on operation in southern Lebanon”, we read on social media. The army “considers the incident with great gravity and underlines that the soldier’s behavior is completely inconsistent with the values expected of his troops”, the message continues.
“The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is being handled through the chain of command. Appropriate action will be taken against those involved, based on the findings of the investigation,” it added. The Israeli army assures that “it is collaborating with the community to return the statue to its place”.