Israeli Soldier Destroys Statue of Jesus Christ with Hammer; Netanyahu Responds

Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa'ar, has described the destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ by an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon as horrific and shameful.

Sa'ar addressed reports regarding the incident involving a soldier from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) breaking the Christian religious symbol on the social media platform X. The minister condemned the act as an abhorrent deed that completely contradicts Israel's values, and he apologized to all Christians whose feelings were hurt by the incident.

The diplomat confirmed that the IDF has begun an investigation into the matter. Sa'ar expressed confidence that strict sanctions would be imposed on the guilty party.

Earlier reports indicated that the Israeli soldier had damaged the statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon with blows from a hammer. IDF representatives promised to hold the soldier accountable and expressed their willingness to support the local community in restoring the statue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the act of vandalism against the Catholic religious image by an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu stated that, like the vast majority of Israelis, he was shocked and saddened by the incident. He noted that the act of damaging the Catholic icon by the IDF soldier deserved the strongest condemnation. According to the Prime Minister, military authorities have already initiated a criminal investigation, and the perpetrator will face appropriate disciplinary action.