IDF confirms authenticity of a photo of a soldier destroying a statute of Jesus Christ

[childlessbutconcerned]

https://x.com/idf/status/2045973415643767091?s=46

Disgraceful.

Yes, disgraceful actions by an individual.
Good on the IDF for investigating, communicating their findings and pledging to assist the community in restoring the statue.

Let’s see if it actually happens.

It’s clearly something that is seen as normal amongst IDF troops, or it wouldn’t have been filmed and posted online.

Disgraceful. Good that they have officially responded in an appropriate manner. And that they recognise the severity of the incident.

IDF always say “we will investigate and take appropriate action” yeah suuuure they will….
Harassment of Christians is on the rise in Israel.

Agreed. The incident was shameful but I don't think the IDF could have done more at this stage to condemn it than what they have already done:

The Israeli army said it viewed the incident with “great severity”, adding that the “soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.

“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,” it said in a post on X.

The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and “addressed through the chain of command”, the military added.

It said that “appropriate measures will be taken against those involved” but did not go into further detail.

The army said that it was working with the community to “restore the statue to its place”.

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/image-soldier-striking-jesus-christ-statue-israel/

Army at war purposely damages statue. And in other news bears shit in the woods.

Would you say the same if it was an opposing army damaging Jewish statues?

Course.
Call me a cynic but let's say Hamas damaged a Jewish statue in Gaza, or in any of the kibbutzes on 7 October, I doubt anyone would bother starting a thread to froth in hatred for the Palestinian vandals who did it. So unlikely I'd get the chance.

Oh well.

This is part of a pattern of rising anti Christian behaviour from some Israelis, the IDF and the Israeli government. Unfortunately the ancient Christian communities in the region are left fearing for their futures because of the actions of some Israeli citizens, the IDF and the Israeli government. The destruction of statues are the least of their worries to put it mildly. This article has some info about the way Israel have been treating Christians for the past few years, this ranges from spitting on Christians and setting fire to churches to attempting to ethnically cleanse Christians from land they have lived on for 1000s of years simply because they aren't Jewish.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/05/israeli-settlers-driving-christians-out-west-bank

Horrifying.

@childlessbutconcerned , maybe it is NOT seen as normal and that is why it was filmed and posted online. Maybe the person filming was horrified by the actions of this individual. We don’t really know, nothing is ‘clear’ unless you have a bias which blinds you to alternative possibilities.

I really don’t think it would be posted online if they were horrified.

It is but it isn't too late to help these people who are being tormented and driven from their homes. Everyone should write to their government representatives and ask for action to be taken against Israel before it is too late and these ancient communities are lost forever. We've seen how fast the UK can act with sanctions when they want to, there is no reason that they can't do the same here. Israel are not going to act without external pressure this is clear from the worsening situation in villages like Tabyeh, the last entirely Christian Palestinian village in the West Bank which has been subjected to multiple terror attacks in the past few months. Statues are just the tip of the iceberg.

@childlessbutconcerned , I doubt you’ll be interested but here’s the response from Isreal:-

news.sky.com/story/netanyahu-condemns-in-strongest-terms-idf-damage-to-jesus-statue-in-lebanon-13534070

Unforgivable, and I hope it will be properly sanctioned. But I do hope that people who “explain” antisemitic attacks against British or Australian Jews as being related to Israel’s actions will apply the same logic to this.

It would be a double standard not to.

A bit spineless, no?

What more could they do at this stage than acknowledge the crime, condemn the crime, “soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”, carry out immediate initial investigations and promise that “appropriate measures will be taken against those involved” and also work with the community to restore the statue to its place?

@childlessbutconcerned , could you explain in what way you consider this ‘spineless’?

To be a bit pedantic, you don't get religious Jewish statues because that's forbidden as idolatry. We do have memorial statues etc though.

I expect the IDF is only making a big example of this because it will upset their Christian Nationalist chums in the US who Israel either doesn't know or doesn't care want Jews to convert or die so their Messiah will show up.

and yet, and still: Jesus is coming on the Mount of Olives to rule for a 1000 years period from Jerusalem ...<??> so He must love them despite their many faults

Bloody religion, it's gonna end us all.
Oh for a secular world

No mention of the soldier being sacked?

@childlessbutconcerned , you want a specific word? Good gracious! They do say he will be severely dealt with. I find your comments illuminating.

Jesus loves us ALL despite our many faults.

Jesus isnt a racist and doesn't exceptionalise any one race.

😉

Yes. I expect the same specific wording as so many pro-Israeli posters expect from everyone else.