Senior commanders, including IDF Chief Eyal Zamir, condemned the act as a “moral failure,” stressing that it violated military values and standing orders regarding respect for religious sites.
BY PC Bureau
April 22, 2026 — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has dismissed two soldiers from combat roles and sentenced them to 30 days in military prison after one of them was filmed vandalizing a statue of Jesus in a Christian village in southern Lebanon.
According to an IDF statement issued Tuesday, one soldier used a sledgehammer to damage the religious statue in the village of Debel, while another documented the act. A subsequent military investigation found that six additional troops were present at the scene but neither intervened nor reported the incident.
“The soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values,” the military said, describing the episode as a serious breach of discipline and ethical standards.
Findings and Conclusions of the Inquiry into the Conduct of an IDF Soldier Who Damaged a Christian Symbol in Southern Lebanon
The inquiry found that during IDF activity in the area of the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon, an IDF soldier damaged a Christian… https://t.co/73ubDn3L2G
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 21, 2026
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The findings of the probe were presented to Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan, who oversees the sector. Dahan approved disciplinary action against the two primary offenders, leading to their removal from combat duty and imprisonment. The six other soldiers have been summoned for formal clarification hearings, with further punitive measures under consideration.
Senior military leadership, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, were briefed on the investigation. Zamir condemned the act as “unacceptable conduct and a moral failure,” stressing that it contradicts the standards expected of Israeli forces.
A short while ago, in full coordination with the local community of Debel in southern Lebanon, the damaged statue was replaced by IDF troops. The Northern Command worked to coordinate the replacement of the statue from the moment it received the report of the incident.
The IDF… pic.twitter.com/nGh1s1iia1
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 21, 2026
The IDF said it has since replaced the damaged statue in coordination with local residents, with Northern Command units working directly with the community in Debel to restore the site. The military added that it would reinforce guidelines regarding the protection of religious institutions and symbols among troops operating in the area.
The incident came to light after an image of the vandalism circulated widely on social media on April 19, shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. It has drawn broader scrutiny amid other allegations of misconduct by soldiers in southern Lebanon.
In its statement, the IDF expressed regret over the incident and reiterated that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely at Hezbollah and other militant groups, not at civilians or religious sites.
