Ramallah: Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac has called for attention to be redirected towards the attacks on civilians and the extensive destruction in Gaza and Lebanon, following an incident involving the destruction of a statue of Jesus by an Israeli soldier. Isaac, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Ramallah, emphasized in a post on the US social media platform X that while the destruction of the statue is indeed abhorrent, the primary concern should be the violence against civilians and the widespread devastation in the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, Isaac stated, "The outrage shouldn't be about a destroyed statue of Jesus-abhorrent as that is." He further added, "The real outrage is the targeting of civilians, the assault on human dignity, the devastation in Gaza and Lebanon. War is evil. We need accountability." His comments came in response to footage released on Sunday showing an Israeli soldier using a hammer to smash a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese town of Dibel, which provoked widespread local and international outrage, including condemnation from both religious and political figures.
Catholic church leaders in Jerusalem condemned the act on Monday, describing it as a serious violation of Christian religious values and demanding accountability. Meanwhile, Israel's public broadcaster reported that the soldier involved would not face a criminal investigation but would be subject to disciplinary measures. The Israeli army expressed its view of the incident with utmost seriousness, stating that the soldier's actions contradict the values expected of its troops.
The backdrop of this incident is Israel's ongoing military offensive in Lebanon, which began on March 2, shortly after the start of the Iran war. According to official figures, this offensive has resulted in the deaths of 2,294 people, injuries to 7,544, and the displacement of over 1 million individuals. A 10-day ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump, took effect on Thursday evening; however, violations of the ceasefire have continued.
