Lebanon Town Replaces IDF-Gifted Jesus Statue After Soldier Vandalism Sparks Outrage and Jailings
A soldier from the Israel Defense Forces was filmed on March 22, 2025, smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in the Lebanese border town of Marjayoun, an act that triggered immediate condemnation from local religious leaders and international observers.
The statue, gifted to the town by the IDF in 2000 as a symbol of post-withdrawal goodwill following Israel’s exit from southern Lebanon, was destroyed during a routine patrol near the Blue Line. Video footage circulating on social media showed the soldier using the butt of his rifle to strike the monument repeatedly until it fractured at the base. The clip was verified by AFP and corroborated by multiple eyewitness accounts collected by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Within hours, UNIFIL announced it had replaced the damaged statue with an exact replica, funded and installed under its supervision. The replacement was unveiled on March 24 in a ceremony attended by Marjayoun’s mayor, representatives of the town’s Maronite Catholic community, and UNIFIL’s Spanish contingent, which oversees civil affairs in the sector. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated the act was “a deliberate effort to restore a symbol of shared heritage” and emphasized that the force considers the protection of cultural and religious sites part of its mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The incident drew sharp rebuke from Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which summoned the head of UNIFIL’s liaison office to protest what it described as “a provocative violation of solemn symbols” and called for disciplinary action against the soldier. The Israeli military confirmed the soldier’s identity and said he had been detained pending investigation. On March 26, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced the soldier had been sentenced to 28 days in military detention and demoted in rank, though his name was not released.
Religious leaders across Lebanon warned the act risked inflaming sectarian tensions in a country still recovering from years of economic collapse and political paralysis. Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, the senior Shiite cleric of southern Lebanon, said whereas the statue was Christian, its destruction was “an affront to all who believe in coexistence.” Maronite Archbishop Elias Audi of Tyre urged restraint but called the act “a betrayal of the quiet understanding that has kept the south calm for years.”
Internationally, the Vatican’s press office issued a rare statement on March 25 expressing “deep sorrow” over the vandalism and urging “respect for sacred symbols wherever they may be.” The U.S. Embassy in Beirut echoed the sentiment, stating it was “monitoring the situation closely” and urging all parties to avoid actions that could undermine stability along the Blue Line.
Analysts noted the timing of the incident coincided with heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where cross-border exchanges have increased since October 2023. However, no direct link was established between the soldier’s actions and broader operational orders, and the IDF characterized the act as an individual breach of conduct.
As of March 30, the soldier remained in military custody, and the IDF’s Military Advocate General confirmed the case was under review for possible additional charges under Israeli military law governing conduct in occupied territories. UNIFIL said it would continue to monitor the site and had no plans to alter its routine patrols in the area. No further public statements were issued by either party regarding the incident.