Photos show Israeli soldiers desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in Lebanon!
Religious leaders and governments from multiple countries have spoken out in condemnation, stating that this act has hurt the feelings of Christians worldwide.
CNN report dated May 6.
A photograph circulating on social media appears to show an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in Deir al-Balah, Lebanon.
The Israeli military is currently investigating. A photo circulating online shows a soldier seemingly desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in Deir al-Balah — a town where Israeli soldiers were previously photographed destroying a cross.
In a geolocated image analyzed by CNN, an Israeli soldier wearing military camouflage is seen placing a lit cigarette near the mouth of the Virgin Mary statue, making it appear as though the statue is smoking.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated Wednesday that “this incident is being taken extremely seriously.”
The IDF said the photo was taken “a few weeks ago.”
“The military will investigate this incident and take command actions against the involved soldier based on the findings,” the military said in a statement. “The Israel Defense Forces respect the religious beliefs and freedom of worship of all religions and communities, as well as sacred places and religious symbols.”
CNN was unable to verify the timing of the photo’s capture or confirm the account that originally posted it.
This photo's spread follows two other incidents recently reported in Deir al-Balah, a small Christian-majority village in southern Lebanon that has been under Israeli military control for several weeks.
In April this year, a video surfaced showing an Israeli soldier damaging a statue of Jesus Christ. In response, the Israeli military detained two soldiers and questioned six others.
Later, Major General Eyal Zamir, head of the Israeli military, warned senior defense officials about unspecified “unethical incidents,” cautioning that “the erosion of values and standards may be just as dangerous as operational threats.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864480462184516/
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