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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the vandalism of a Jesus Christ statue allegedly by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon, saying he was “stunned and saddened” by the act. A criminal probe has been launched, with promises of strict disciplinary action. The incident sparked backlash after a viral photo showed the statue being struck.

Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned the vandalism of a statue of Jesus Christ carried out by a soldier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon, promising strict disciplinary action against the offender.

In a post on the social media platform X on Sunday, Netanyahu said he was “stunned and saddened” to learn about the incident, which triggered widespread backlash after a photo of the vandalism circulated online. The viral image reportedly showed a uniformed soldier striking a Catholic statue of Jesus Christ with what appeared to be a hammer, after the statue had been placed upside down.

Condemning the act in the strongest terms, Netanyahu said military authorities had launched a criminal investigation into the incident and assured that harsh disciplinary action would be taken if wrongdoing was confirmed.

Emphasising Israel’s stance on religious tolerance, Netanyahu said the country upholds values of mutual respect among followers of all faiths. He expressed regret over the incident and apologised for the hurt caused to believers in Lebanon and across the world.