The Israeli military says it has launched an investigation after a photo showing one of its soldiers desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in South Lebanon went viral, as he placed a cigarette into the statue's mouth whilst smoking. The IDF said it "respects freedom of religion" and that the soldier will be disciplined. The incident took place Debel, in the same village where last month, an Israeli soldier was filmed smashing a Jesus statue with a sledgehammer.
In a statement on X, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that the IDF "views the incident with utmost severity" and recognises that the soldier's conduct "deviates from the values expected of its personnel."
He also claimed an initial inquiry had found that the photo was taken several weeks ago, though only began circulating online on Wednesday, before stating that the IDF "respects freedom of religion and worship, as as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities."
The photo was taken in the Maronite Christian-majority village of Debel, located a few kilometres from the Israeli border, and one of the few still-inhabited villages since Israel began its campaign in southern Lebanon.
It's also the same village where just last month, international outrage swarmed after an Israeli soldier was pictured smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer. The IDF said it sentenced 2 soldiers to 30-days in jail for the incident, replaced the Jesus statue and was working to ensure it "never happens again."
This is the latest in a string of recent violence against Christians by Israeli military. Last week, it was reported that the Israeli army razed the Sisters of the Holy Savior convent and school in Yaroun, South Lebanon. Last month, surveillance footage caught a Jewish Israeli man was kicking and assaulting a 48-year old nun in Jerusalem.
Vedika Bahl goes through what we know about this latest photo in Truth or Fake.
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