IDF Soldiers Jailed for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces sentenced two soldiers to military prison for desecrating a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, southern Lebanon. One soldier received 21 days for placing a cigarette in the statue's mouth, while another got 14 days for filming the act. The viral incident sparked international outrage and accusations of religious disrespect, marking the second such controversy in the village recently. The IDF condemned the behavior as contrary to military values, aiming to mitigate diplomatic tensions amidst ongoing operations against Hezbollah and heightened scrutiny of its conduct in the region.
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Israeli Soldiers Jailed for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
Two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have been sentenced to military prison for desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Christian village of Debel, southern Lebanon. The incident, which sparked significant outrage on social media, involved one soldier placing a cigarette in the statue's mouth while another filmed the act. IDF spokeswoman Ariella Mazor announced that the soldier posing with the statue received a 21-day sentence, while the cameraman was sentenced to 14 days. The IDF stated it views the incident with great severity, emphasizing respect for religious freedom and holy sites. This case follows a similar incident last month where two other soldiers were imprisoned for smashing a Jesus Christ statue in the same village. The report contextualizes these events within ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, noting that despite a ceasefire effective since April 16, clashes have continued. It also references previous incidents involving damage to Christian sites in Gaza, highlighting growing concerns among Christian communities regarding the conduct of Israeli forces in the region during recent conflicts.
RT - Daily newsIsraeli Soldiers Jailed for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
Two Israeli soldiers have been sentenced to military prison for desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The incident involved one soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of the religious statue while another photographed the act. The resulting image, which also showed the soldier with a cigarette in his own mouth, went viral and triggered widespread international outrage. This event marks the latest in a series of actions by Israeli forces denounced as anti-Christian in the region, following a recent ground invasion aimed at targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. The Israeli military imposed sentences of 21 days for the soldier who posed with the statue and 14 days for the photographer. Lieutenant Colonel Ariella Mazor, a military spokesperson, stated that the army views the incident with great severity and reaffirmed its respect for freedom of religion and holy sites across all communities. The controversy arises shortly after another incident involving an Israeli soldier damaging a statue of Jesus in the village of Debel, which had already drawn condemnation from foreign leaders, Christian authorities, and Israeli politicians.
News - South China Morning PostIsraeli Soldiers Jailed for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
The Israeli Army announced on May 11, 2026, that it has sentenced two soldiers to prison terms for desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The soldier depicted placing a cigarette in the statue's mouth received a 21-day sentence, while the photographer was sentenced to 14 days. The incident, which occurred weeks prior, sparked widespread outrage after images circulated on social media. Lieutenant Colonel Ariella Mazor, an army spokeswoman, condemned the act as contradicting military values and emphasized the armed forces' respect for religious symbols. This case follows a similar incident in April where soldiers were detained for destroying a statue of Jesus in Debl. The disciplinary actions occur amidst ongoing Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israel currently occupies a security zone extending up to 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory. The army continues to face criticism for attacks on Christian symbols and the destruction of villages in the region, drawing parallels to its strategies in the Gaza Strip.
Folha de S.Paulo - Em cima da hora - PrincipalTwo Israeli Soldiers Sentenced for Desecrating Virgin Mary Image in Lebanon
The Israeli Army has sentenced two soldiers to military prison for desecrating an image of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The soldier who placed a cigarette in the statue's mouth received a 21-day sentence, while the colleague who recorded the incident was sentenced to 14 days. The military stated it viewed the incident with great severity, reaffirming its commitment to religious freedom and respect for sacred symbols across all faiths. The photograph went viral on social media, prompting an investigation into the event, which occurred several weeks prior in the village of Debel near the Lebanese-Israeli border. This incident follows a similar case where another soldier was sentenced for destroying an image of Christ with an ax in the same area. These events take place against the backdrop of ongoing tensions, as Israel maintains military divisions in southern Lebanon following an offensive against Hezbollah that began in March 2026, despite a ceasefire implemented in April. The army also initiated consultations regarding six military witnesses who failed to intervene during the desecration.
Portada // elmundoIsrael Jails Soldiers for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
The Israeli military has imprisoned soldiers involved in the desecration of a statue of the Virgin Mary located in Lebanon. The disciplinary action follows the widespread circulation of a provocative image on social media platforms last week. The photograph depicted an Israeli soldier posing with his arm around the religious statue, which represents the mother of Christ, while holding a cigarette up to its mouth. This act of disrespect towards a significant Christian symbol sparked immediate outrage and condemnation online, highlighting the sensitive nature of religious icons in the region. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and complex interactions between Israeli forces and local populations in Lebanon. By taking legal action against the perpetrators, Israeli authorities aim to address the backlash and demonstrate accountability for misconduct by their personnel. The event has drawn international attention due to the viral nature of the image and the broader geopolitical context of Israeli operations in neighboring Lebanon. The source of this report is Vanguard News, a Nigerian media outlet, which highlighted the judicial response to the sacrilegious behavior displayed by the soldiers in the controversial photograph.
Vanguard NewsIsrael Jails Two Soldiers for Desecrating Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
The Israeli military has sentenced two soldiers to imprisonment following the circulation of images showing them desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. One soldier received a 21-day sentence for placing a cigarette in the statue's mouth, while another received 14 days for filming the act. The incident, which occurred several weeks ago, triggered global condemnation and accusations that the Israeli army disregards religious sanctity and civilian respect. Lieutenant Colonel Ariella Mazor, an IDF spokeswoman, stated that the conduct severely deviated from military values and emphasized the IDF's respect for all religious sites. This case marks the second recent controversy involving Israeli soldiers and Christian symbols in Lebanon; in late April, two other soldiers were detained for destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in Debl. The article also notes broader criticisms regarding the destruction of mosques and churches in Gaza and Lebanon since the war began in October 2023. Despite military claims of targeting terrorist infrastructure, religious groups and activists have denounced these actions as deliberate attacks on places of worship, highlighting ongoing tensions and international scrutiny of the Israeli military's conduct in the region.
The New ArabIDF Soldier Jailed for Defacing Virgin Mary Statue in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sentenced a soldier to 21 days in military prison for desecrating a religious Christian symbol in southern Lebanon. The incident involved the soldier placing a cigarette into the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary located in the Lebanese village of Debel. Additionally, another soldier received a 14-day prison sentence for filming the act. Although the event occurred several weeks prior, it gained public attention only after the soldiers shared photographs of the incident on social media platforms. In response to the controversy, the IDF issued a statement emphasizing its respect for freedom of religion and worship. The military further noted that it routinely reinforces protocols and procedures for soldiers regarding appropriate conduct around sensitive religious and cultural sites. This disciplinary action highlights the IDF's internal measures to address misconduct involving religious sensitivities in conflict zones, aiming to mitigate diplomatic and communal tensions arising from such actions by individual service members.
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