The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed the authenticity of a viral image showing an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus in southern Lebanon. The statue had fallen off a cross prior to the incident.
The Israeli military stated that the incident is being investigated and is being viewed with great severity. An army spokesman said the act does not align with the IDF's values, adding that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
In response to the photo, social media users have condemned the silence of Western nations regarding attacks on religious symbols and sites by Israeli soldiers and settlers.