Israeli Army: Soldiers Punished After Damage to Religious Symbol in Debl
The Israeli army has presented the findings of an investigation into an incident involving a soldier who damaged a Christian religious symbol in southern Lebanon.
According to military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the results of the inquiry were presented on Monday evening to the commander of the 162nd Division, Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan. The investigation found that during an operation in the Christian village of Debl, a soldier damaged a religious symbol, while another soldier filmed the incident, which was later circulated. Six additional soldiers were present but did not intervene or report the incident.
The army said the conduct of the soldiers was completely inconsistent with its orders and values, and expressed deep regret over the incident. It reiterated that its operations in Lebanon are directed against Hezbollah and other armed actors, not against civilians, adding that the Northern Command has been working to assist residents in replacing the damaged statue.
Following the investigation, the soldier who carried out the act and the soldier who filmed it were removed from combat duty and each received a 30-day prison sentence. The other soldiers present have been summoned for disciplinary hearings, after which further decisions will be taken regarding their service.
The army also said that instructions regarding the protection of religious sites and symbols had been reinforced ahead of operations in the area and would be reiterated to all units in the sector. The findings were presented to the Chief of Staff and the Northern Command, where the Chief of Staff condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable conduct and a serious ethical failure that falls short of the standards expected of Israeli soldiers.
