Overview
- Italian UN peacekeepers installed a matching crucifix in Debel after the original was smashed by an Israeli soldier.
- The Israeli military apologized and put two soldiers in detention for 30 days and removed them from combat, while six others were questioned.
- The IDF said it helped replace the statue, yet local photos and accounts show UNIFIL delivered and installed the matching figure at the original site, raising questions about the IDF’s claim.
- Residents report travel limits, weak internet, and shortages as fighting has cut the village off, and the parish donated the smaller Israeli crucifix to the local church.
- Faith leaders and NGOs say the case fits a wider trend, citing a 40% rise in attacks on Christians in 2025 and BBC reporting of at least 94 Palestinian prisoner deaths in Israeli custody.