Israel’s military has announced the replacement of a crucifix in southern Lebanon following an incident where a soldier destroyed the original statue. The new crucifix, unveiled in a social media post by the Israeli military, is smaller but more intricately designed than the previous one that was vandalized.
According to a statement released by the Israeli military on Tuesday, soldiers collaborated with the community in the Lebanese village of Debel to orchestrate the replacement, which features a metallic Jesus figure and four paintings of saints on each arm of the cross. The incident, in which one soldier damaged the religious symbol while another captured it on camera, led to the suspension of two soldiers from combat duty and their confinement in military detention for 30 days.
Additionally, the statement revealed that six other soldiers were present during the incident but did not intervene. The act, captured in a widely condemned image showing an Israeli soldier using the blunt side of an axe on the fallen sculpture of Jesus, drew criticism from Israeli politicians, the United States, and church leaders.
The photograph was shared by Younis Tirawi, a Palestinian reporter known for highlighting alleged misconduct by Israeli soldiers, particularly in Gaza. Reuters confirmed that the image was taken in Debel, a village in southern Lebanon known for its resistance during Israel’s recent military operations against Hezbollah.
Lebanon, with a population of approximately 5.5 million people, has a significant Christian community, constituting around a third of the population. Many Christians in the southern region were displaced during past conflicts.