IDF soldier suspended from duty after vandalism of Jesus statue in Lebanon

An IDF spokesman has now confirmed another soldier photographed the act while six additional soldiers were present at the scene and did not act to stop the incident or report it.

The spokesman apologised for the incident and claims the IDF has "been working to assist the local community in replacing the statue".

The spokesman said: "It was decided that the soldier who damaged the Christian symbol and the soldier who photographed the act will be removed from combat duty and will receive 30 days of military detention.

"The remaining troops who stood by have been summoned for clarification discussions that will be held later on, after which further command-level measures will be determined.

"Procedures regarding conduct with religious institutions and symbols were reinforced to the troops prior to their entry into the relevant areas, and will be reinforced again for all troops in the area following the incident.

"The Chief of the General Staff condemned the incident and stated that it constitutes unacceptable conduct and a moral failure, far exceeding any acceptable standard and contradicting IDF values and the expected conduct of its troops."

The image was met with widespread condemnation from the global Christian community. Fadi Falfel, a priest in Debel, said: "One of the Israeli soldiers broke the cross and did this horrible thing, this desecration of our holy symbols."

Mr Falfel added the cross was part of a small shrine in the garden of a family living on the edge of the village.

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, which includes Jerusalem's Catholic Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said in a statement that the act "constitutes a grave affront to the Christian faith".

He said: "It further reveals a disturbing failure in moral and human formation, wherein even the most elementary reverence for the sacred and for the dignity of others has been gravely compromised."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the soldier's actions went against Jewish values of tolerance and that he would be punished.

Mr Netanyahu said: "I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms."

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also said: "Swift, severe, & public consequences are needed", while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the soldier's actions were disgraceful and shameful.

He added: "We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt."

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told The Guardian it was an "unacceptable and unjustifiable act".

Debel is one of dozens of villages in south Lebanon now under effective Israeli occupation as a ceasefire remains on the precipice.

Mr Falfel said: "We have every kind of crisis.

"We thought the ceasefire would bring us some relief but we’re still surrounded, unable to travel to and from the town. There are some houses on the edge of town that we’re barred from accessing."

Israeli military officials have insisted they are working with aid agencies to meet the humanitarian needs of Debel and other nearby villages.

The IDF has come under fire for the destruction of cultural and religious sites across Gaza and Lebanon.

In July last year, Israeli strikes hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the heavily destroyed enclave's only Catholic Church, which had become a "sanctuary" for those attempting to flee the IDF's offensive against Hamas.

Israel's strikes have killed nearly 1,300 people in Lebanon and its evacuation orders have displaced more than one million people.

Israel says it intends to control a "security zone" as deep as 30 km (20 miles) into Lebanese territory.