UN Peacekeepers Restore Jesus Statue in Lebanese Village After IDF Incident
UNIFIL's Italian battalion assists Debel residents in replacing a destroyed Jesus statue, following an IDF soldier's vandalism.
In the southern Lebanese village of Debel, residents, with assistance from the Italian battalion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), have replaced a statue of Jesus that was previously destroyed by an Israeli soldier. The new statue is identical to the original one that was damaged.
The incident occurred when an Israeli soldier used a sledgehammer to smash the head of the statue, an act that was photographed and widely circulated online, leading to international condemnation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the authenticity of the image and stated that the soldier's conduct was "wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops."
Following an investigation, the IDF announced that the soldier who damaged the statue and another who photographed the act were removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison. Additionally, six other soldiers present during the incident were summoned for further discussions to determine appropriate measures.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his dismay over the incident, stating he was "stunned and saddened" and condemned the act "in the strongest terms." He assured that military authorities were conducting a criminal probe and would take appropriate disciplinary action.
The replacement of the statue by UNIFIL's Italian battalion aims to restore a significant religious symbol for the local community and ease tensions in the area.