Israeli fighters who destroyed Jesus statue jailed. Where are the other arrests?

The Israeli fighters who destroyed a statue of Jesus in Lebanon have been reprimanded and sentenced to prison, while the Israeli authorities remain mum on other destruction to religious sites and symbols across the region.

The fighter who was filmed destroying the sculpture in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon has been sentenced to 30 days in prison, the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. The fighter who photographed him received the same sentence.

Neither of them was identified by the IDF, which said another six fighters were present at the event and did not act to stop him or report him. Those fighters did not receive criminal sentences and were summoned for further interrogations, but have not yet been removed from combat or prosecuted.

However, the IDF has remained largely silent on the destruction of Christian churches, mosques and other religious sites and symbols by its troops and Israeli settlers across the region since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023.