Israel’s military has launched an investigation after a photo circulated online showing an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The image showed the soldier placing a cigarette into the mouth of the statue while smoking another cigarette himself.
According to The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that it viewed the incident “gravely” and pledged to take action against the soldier involved. An initial inquiry found that the photo was taken several weeks ago in Debel, a Christian-majority village in southern Lebanon, although it only began circulating online on Wednesday.
Debel has been affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, though some residents have remained in the village despite the fighting. The photo has drawn backlash because of the religious symbolism of the Virgin Mary statue and because it comes amid broader scrutiny over the conduct of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Outrage is growing over a photo of an Israeli soldier pushing a cigarette into the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.
Israeli army officials say the ‘matter is under examination.’ pic.twitter.com/fYVdHE9PBd
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 7, 2026
Separate Jesus statue incident drew outrage before Virgin mary statue desecration by israeli soldier
The Virgin Mary incident follows another image from Debel that showed an Israeli soldier striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer.
Local residents identified the site as a crucifix located outside a family home. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the image was genuine, saying it viewed the incident “with great severity” and that the soldier’s conduct was “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.”
The military said “appropriate measures” would be taken against those involved and added that it was working with the local Christian community to “restore the statue to its place.”
Israeli and U.S. Officials Condemned Previous Incident
The image of the Jesus statue prompted condemnation from Israeli and U.S. officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “stunned and saddened,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said: “We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”
Netanyahu later posted in English that “the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East.” He added that Israel is “the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing” and “the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, wrote on X that “swift, severe, & public consequences are needed.” Former congressman Matt Gaetz reposted the image with the caption “Horrific,” while former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: “‘Our greatest ally’ that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year.”
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