Italian Peacekeepers Restore Vandalized Jesus Statue in Lebanese Village
Italian peacekeepers have returned to Debel, a mostly Christian village in southern Lebanon, to replace a statue of Jesus Christ that was damaged by an Israeli soldier. The original figure was shattered with a tool, an act that drew international condemnation and led to a formal apology from Israel. The new statue was unveiled as Italian forces escorted the Vatican’s ambassador to Lebanon into the village. Locals greeted them with ringing church bells and loud applause. The incident had strained an already difficult situation for Debel’s 1,600 residents, who face tight movement controls amid the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Italian Prime Minister praised the peacekeepers, calling the scene “heart-warming” and a message of hope. The local priest welcomed the gesture and urged forgiveness. He said the community accepted Israel’s apology to ease their “suffocated” living conditions and to uphold their calling as “sons of peace and forgiveness.”
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