Israeli soldier pictured desecrating Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

“Israeli soldier pictured desecrating Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/07/2026 - 09:58 Military says it will discipline the soldier seen placing a cigarette in a statue's mouth in the village of Debel An Israeli soldier desecrates a Virgin Mary statue in the Christian village of Debel in Lebanon (X/Screengrab) Off The Israeli military has launched an inquiry after a viral video showed one of its soldiers in southern Lebanon desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary. The incident took place in the Christian village of Debel, and was captured in a photo that was shared on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it had identified the soldier and that he would be disciplined. It said it “views the incident gravely and emphasises that the soldier’s conduct completely deviates from the values expected of its troops. “The incident will be investigated, and command measures against the soldier will be taken in accordance with the findings,” the military said. It added that it “respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities” and has “no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols”. The Israeli military found that although the picture was shared on Wednesday, it was taken some weeks ago in the village. Rising anger in US Debel is a Maronite Christian village about six kilometres northwest of Ain Ebel, another Lebanese Christian village, and roughly five kilometres from the Israeli border community of Shtula. It is the same village where an Israeli soldier used a jackhammer to smash a statue of Jesus on a cross last month. That image sparked immediate outrage online, including among some former allies of US President Donald Trump. Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted mockingly on X under the image: “'Our greatest ally' that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year.” Matt Gaetz, a former Republican congressman, described the image as “ horrific ”. The Israeli army said it dismissed the soldier who smashed the statue, as well as another who filmed the incident, and sentenced both to 30 days in military prison. Also in Debel, recent footage has shown Israeli military excavators destroying solar panels. The act is currently under investigation by the military. Israeli attacks on Christians Last week, a Catholic charity condemned Israel after its forces destroyed a convent in southern Lebanon, in what it said is a deliberate attack on a place of worship. The French organisation L'Oeuvre d'Orient said Israeli troops demolished a convent belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters, a Greek Catholic religious order, in the village of Yaroun. “L'Oeuvre d'Orient strongly condemns this deliberate act of destruction against a place of worship, as well as the systematic demolition of homes in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing the return of civilian populations,” the group said in a statement on Friday. Can Hezbollah dominate the lower air battlefield against Israel? Read More » The charity said the attack forms part of a wider pattern of attacks on Christian heritage, noting that “Christian sanctuaries were also destroyed during the war in 2024, such as the Melkite churches in the villages of Yaroun and Derdghaya, both classified as part of Lebanon's heritage”. Israeli violence against Christian communities in occupied Palestine has intensified, too. In occupied East Jerusalem, a nun was assaulted by an Israeli man last week near the Cenacle on Mount Zion. The 48-year-old received medical treatment after sustaining facial injuries. Religious practices have also been restricted. Israeli police recently blocked the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and other clergy from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, before partially restoring access following international pressure. A recent report by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue documented a sharp rise in attacks on Christians, describing a “continued and expanding pattern of intimidation and aggression”. It recorded 155 incidents in 2025, including 61 physical assaults, 52 attacks on church property, 28 cases of harassment and 14 instances of vandalised signage. The report said the figures represent only the “tip of the iceberg”. Israel has continued its attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire announced on 17 April to halt more than six weeks of its war on Lebanon . Over 2,600 people have been killed and more than 8,000 wounded since the conflict began on 2 March. Israel's war on Lebanon News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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