A resident of a Christian village in southern Lebanon says he was shocked to see an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his garden. The incident sparked widespread condemnation.
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Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks and condemns capital punishmentMuere a los 79 años Dave Mason, cofundador de Traffic, conocido por"We Just Disagree"The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Monsignor Paolo Borgia, center, poses with residents next to a crucifix sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. An Italian peacekeeper sets up a crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
A new crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace the one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier stands in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Monsignor Paolo Borgia, center, poses with residents next to a crucifix sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Monsignor Paolo Borgia, center, poses with residents next to a crucifix sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. An Italian peacekeeper sets up a crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
An Italian peacekeeper sets up a crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. A new crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace the one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier stands in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
A new crucifix that was sent by Italy to replace the one that was defaced last week by an Israeli soldier stands in the Christian village of Debel, south Lebanon, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. BEIRUT — Houssam Naddaf said no words could capture the shock of seeing an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his family’s private garden in the southern Lebanese village of Debel — an image he recognized instantly as it spread online.
“I saw it on the internet like everyone else,” he said. Naddaf had not been able to go to the house in person to see the damage because of restrictions on movement imposed by Israeli forces in the area.
Israeli forces took control of the area as part of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired a salvo of missiles over the border two days after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran. Israel then launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and its forces have remained there despite the announcement of a truce last week.
The images of the soldier swinging an ax into the fallen statue of Jesus on the cross in the southern Lebanese village of Debel had sparked widespread condemnation, in Lebanon and internationally. Israel’s military said Tuesday that it had replaced the sculpture, and Naddaf confirmed that the Israeli army brought a similar but smaller crucifix, offered an apology and installed it in the presence of village priests.
However, Naddaf said that his family members, who were not present for that installation, already had been contacted by U.N. peacekeepers about a crucifix being offered by Italy. The family decided to accept the Italian donation, a statue about the same size as the original, and give the Israel-supplied one to a local church instead.
The Italian-donated crucifix was erected in a small ceremony Wednesday attended by local priests, residents and U.N. peacekeepers, along with Naddaf and other members of his family. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a message from Italy calling the replaced statue “a powerful message of peace, hope, and dialogue.
” The family had installed the original crucifix in the garden in 2018, part of a shared property that Naddaf and his three brothers have divided into four apartments for their families since 2010. Naddaf said his home sits on the edge of Debel, between the village and nearby Rmeish — an area residents consider more exposed than the village center, which is largely seen as outside the main fighting zone.
Naddaf said he moved with his wife and three children to his parents’ home deeper inside Debel when the war reignited between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2. The military says it only targets buildings that were used as outposts by the Iran-backed militant group. But in many areas, the demolition is almost complete.
The wide scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that large numbers of people displaced byDespite the ceasefire, Naddaf said his family has been barred by the Israeli army from returning to their home. Israeli forces are occupying a border strip that extends around 10 km into Lebanese territory, describing the area as a necessary buffer zone to protect its northern towns from Hezbollah rockets.
Many Lebanese civilians fear the moves could lead to prolonged displacement. Unlike during the 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Naddaf’s family was displaced to Beirut, he said they chose to remain in the village this time.
“It was clear that the plan was expulsion, so we say good thing we didn’t leave this time,” he said. Upon visiting his home during the crucifix installation, escorted by U.N. peacekeepers, he said he found a “total mess,” though he said he was grateful that the house was still standing, unlike several nearby homes that were demolished. Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 3 weeks, Trump says
2024-2025 Mideast Wars Christianity Military And Defense General News Israel War And Unrest Lebanon Israel Government MIDEAST WARS United Nations 2024-2026 Mideast Wars World News Religion Iran Government Italy Government Giorgia Meloni Hezbollah Houssam Naddaf Iran World News
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