Israeli soldiers jailed for smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon

Two Israeli soldiers have been sentenced to 30 days in military detention and removed from combat duty after one smashed the head of a statue of Jesus Christ in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon.

The incident was confirmed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) following an investigation prompted by a widely circulated photo showing the act.

The IDF inquiry found that the soldiers' conduct was a complete deviation from military orders and values.

In addition to the two soldiers directly involved, six other soldiers who witnessed the incident but did not intervene or report it have been summoned for clarification discussions, with further disciplinary measures to be determined.

The IDF expressed deep regret over the incident and emphasized that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely against Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, not Lebanese civilians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the act strongly and expressed regret for any hurt caused to believers in Lebanon and worldwide.

This incident has drawn international condemnation and comes amid ongoing tensions in the region.

It occurred despite a recent US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which paused six weeks of fighting between the IDF and Hezbollah militants.

The village of Debel, where the statue was located, is a Christian community near the border with Israel.

The statue had fallen from a cross before being smashed with a sledgehammer by one soldier, while another soldier photographed the act.

The IDF has replaced the damaged statue in coordination with the local community, with the new crucifix described as smaller but more ornate than the original.

The incident adds to criticism of the Israeli military, which has faced scrutiny for previous attacks on religious sites in Lebanon.

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