A senior Lebanese Orthodox cleric has condemned recent incidents involving Israeli forces, saying attacks on religious symbols in southern Lebanon reflect a broader and long-standing pattern of violations.
Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Tyre, Sidon and surrounding regions Elias Kfoury said the destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ in the town of Debel by an Israeli soldier was not unexpected, citing what he described as repeated breaches of religious sanctity by the Israeli military.
Video footage circulating online showed a soldier striking the statue with a pickaxe, an act that sparked widespread international condemnation.
Speaking in an interview, Kfoury said the Israeli military has a history of actions affecting religious sites, referencing an incident in 2024 when troops allegedly entered an Orthodox monastery in Deir Mimas, damaged property, and mocked religious practices.
He said such behavior formed part of a wider pattern, adding that the recent incident in Debel should be viewed in the same context.
The archbishop also argued that the impact of the conflict extends beyond religious symbols to civilians, pointing to deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction across Lebanon.
He criticized the characterization of the Israeli military as defensive, describing its operations as offensive in nature and accusing it of disregarding both religious and human protections.
Kfoury called on countries supporting Israel to use their influence to ensure respect for international law and the protection of civilians, stressing that suffering has affected both Christian and Muslim communities.
He also questioned the effectiveness of international legal frameworks, suggesting they are not being enforced in the case of Lebanon, and criticized global institutions for failing to protect civilians.
According to official figures cited, thousands have been killed or injured and more than a million people displaced in Lebanon since March amid ongoing Israeli military actions.
The archbishop urged the international community and the United Nations to take stronger action to halt violations and uphold international law, warning against what he described as a growing disregard for human dignity.
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