Israel handed over a new cross to Lebanon's Christian community after an incident involving the desecration of a statue of Christ

Israeli authorities handed over a new cross to the Christian community of the Lebanese village of Debel as compensation for the desecration of a religious shrine by IDF soldiers. The handover of the Banner of the Cross took place on April 21, 2026, after a video of the vandalism caused a wide public outcry. This was reported by Tribune Chrétienne.

The incident took place in southern Lebanon, where an Israeli soldier was caught on camera destroying a crucifix. The footage, which quickly spread on social media, shows the figure of the Savior being removed from the cross, turned upside down and hitting the statue’s head with a hammer. These actions drew sharp condemnation from the local population and officials. The deputy head of the municipality, Debel Maroun Nassif, called the incident a direct attack on religious values and condemned the desecration of the shrine.

In response to the incident, the Israel Defense Forces took disciplinary action. The soldier who smashed the statue was sentenced to 30 days in the brig and suspended from combat. A fellow soldier who videotaped the incident received a similar punishment. To remedy the situation, the Israeli side not only provided a new cross, but also expressed its readiness to provide further assistance in restoring the damaged object, making a symbolic gesture of reconciliation with the Christian community in the region.