A viral photograph showing an Israeli soldier striking a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon has caused a wave of outrage on social media.
The Israeli military announced on Monday that the photograph is authentic and confirmed that the image, which has been viewed more than five million times on the X network, was indeed taken during operations on the ground.
The statement notes that a preliminary investigation shows the soldier was operating in southern Lebanon, where Israel launched a ground offensive last month along with intense bombardment as part of a wider conflict with Iran.
Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026
The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb
The military added that an official investigation has been launched and that “appropriate measures will be taken against those responsible in accordance with the findings.”
During the war in Gaza, Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted religious sites, including mosques and churches. At the same time, in the occupied West Bank, settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques last year, according to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs.
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