IDF soldier caught smashing Jesus statue with sledgehammer — officials and critics react



A photograph began circulating on social media over the weekend that has many people both angry and confused while others question whether it is a real photo.

And the answers that later emerged did nothing to quell the outrage.

'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'

The photo, posted by Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi on Saturday, depicts a uniformed Israel Defense Forces soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer.

The journalist noted that the photo was taken during operations in Southern Lebanon, which have persisted despite the United States' attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement with Iran.

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Anwar AMRO/AFP/Getty Images

Tirawi made a follow-up post suggesting that the statue was in Debel, one of several predominantly Christian border villages in Southern Lebanon.

The post brought attention to a Facebook post associated with the town with a photo of the intact statue of Jesus. The caption of the post is Luke 23:34, which reads, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The IDF confirmed that the photo of "an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol" was indeed of "an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon."

It confirmed the authenticity of the photo, adding that the incident is viewed with "great severity" and that "appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings."

The post added that the IDF is "operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the rest of the "Jewish state," intimated that he was "stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon."

Netanyahu promised that the offender would face "appropriately harsh disciplinary action" and concluded:

While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria and Lebanon by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East. Israel is the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all. We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.

Critics, however, were not so convinced.

Glenn Greenwald mocked anyone who would defend this horrific action: "Christian Zionists: This Israeli soldier was absolutely justified in smashing the head of the Jesus Christ statue because Hezbollah and Hamas were hiding inside. We owe him our gratitude."

"Horrific," Matt Gaetz said.

Ana Kasparian attacked the IDF and its post, saying that she didn't believe a word the IDF said: "This is just another example of Israel's hatred and disregard for other cultures and faiths. No one trusts your phony investigations, especially when IDF soldiers get away with rape and murder every single day."

Marjorie Taylor Greene joined the fray, quipping, “'Our greatest ally' that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year."

Israel has justified its incursions into Lebanon on the basis of rooting out Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy in the country.

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Conservatives Blast Trump For Christ-Like Image, Losing His Mind Over Pope

'God shall not be mocked'

Will the Iran war tip the scales in the race to replace MTG?



The special election to replace former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia could have a lot more to do with foreign policy than candidates initially anticipated.

Greene's falling out with President Donald Trump marked a major fracture within the GOP, prompting a special election to fill her seat on Tuesday. Apart from the typical party distinctions, foreign policy could be the deciding factor between the Democrat and Republican nominees vying to represent Georgia's 14th congressional district.

'He has gone insane, and all of you are complicit.'

Democratic nominee Shawn Harris has taken a harsh stance against the ongoing war in Iran, which has become increasingly unpopular with voters, while Republican nominee Clay Fuller has remained a supporter of the conflict.

The horseshoe theory about the political spectrum seems to be in full swing as Greene's increasingly critical remarks about the war and the Trump administration more broadly seem to echo Harris' positions far more than Fuller's.

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ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP/Getty Images

Days before the special election, Greene doubled down on her criticism of the war, condemning Trump's Easter ultimatum to Iran.

"Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness," Greene said in a response to Trump's post threatening to attack civilian infrastructure like power plants and bridges. "I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit."

"Trump threatening to bomb power plants and bridges hurts the Iranian people, the very people Trump claimed he was freeing," Greene added. "On Easter, of all days, we as Christians should be reminded that the son of God died and rose from the grave so that we can be forgiven once and for all of our sins. Jesus commanded us to love one another and forgive one another. Even our enemies."

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Greene has refrained from endorsing either candidate, although Fuller has secured support from Trump. While an endorsement from Trump would typically all but guarantee the candidate's success, especially in a rural, red district in Georgia, Harris narrowly outperformed his Republican challenger in March.

In a crowded 17-candidate race, Harris brought in 37% while Fuller finished with 35%. The candidates' respective numbers were likely affected by the many candidates who no longer qualify for Tuesday's election. It should also be noted that a Trump-endorsed Greene beat Harris by nearly 30% back in 2024.

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Battle over MTG's former seat goes unresolved on election night — but Trump-backed Republican tastes victory



Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) called it quits and left office on Jan. 5, leaving Georgia's 14th congressional district up for grabs.

Shawn Harris — a Democratic retired brigadier general who was previously defeated by Greene in a landslide — attempted to take the seat in Tuesday's free-for-all special election. He was, however, thwarted by Clay Fuller, a hard-nosed Republican who served in the Air National Guard and left his role as district attorney to run for Congress.

'TOO BIG TO RIG.'

With over 95% of the votes in as of Wednesday morning, Fuller — whom President Donald Trump characterized as an "America First Patriot" in his endorsement last month — had secured 34.9% of the total vote, reported the Associated Press.

Trump's pick handily outperformed over 10 other Republican contenders, including former Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, who identified himself on the campaign as "Trump's #1 Defender for Georgia's 14th Congressional District." Moore received 11.6% of the vote.

The other Republican candidates couldn't crack 5%.

Harris, alternatively, managed to secure 37.3% of the vote.

As neither Harris nor Fuller reached the necessary 50% plus one vote to take the district outright, they are headed to a head-to-head runoff election on April 7 where Trump's pick won't have to compete with fellow Republicans.

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Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images

Fuller told reporters at his election night watch party, "I would describe this as an outright win."

"We know that the endorsement from President Trump made a difference in this race, and we're going to go and win it," continued the candidate. "I think it's time that the Republican vote unites and gets a representative to Capitol Hill as soon as possible."

Trump noted just before midnight, "Congratulations to Clay Fuller, of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, on getting such a high percentage of the vote with 12 Republicans running. We want to make the next vote 'TOO BIG TO RIG.' Clay will be a GREAT Congressman — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"

Notwithstanding his opponent's performance in a crowded Republican field, Harris claimed, "This race isn't over."

"Momentum is real. The coalition is growing," continued Harris. "Let’s finish what we started."

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Marjorie Taylor Greene All But Set To Be Replaced By Trump-Backed Republican

cementing his status

Meet the Muslim-American Businessman Bankrolling 'Squad' Dems, Anti-AIPAC Outfits, and… Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie

A Palestinian-American businessman has funneled nearly $150,000 to "Squad" Democrats, a super PAC aimed at countering the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)—and two Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.).

The post Meet the Muslim-American Businessman Bankrolling 'Squad' Dems, Anti-AIPAC Outfits, and… Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie appeared first on .

House passes the buck on Mace's push for sexual misconduct disclosure amid Tony Gonzales scandal



On the same day that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) admitted to having an affair with a former staffer who tragically committed suicide by self-immolation, the U.S. House of Representatives sidelined a bill that would potentially have brought transparency to matters of sexual misconduct among members of Congress.

On Wednesday, the House voted "yea" on a motion to refer a subpoena sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to the House Ethics Committee.

'I think it is DISGUSTING how Congress protects its own corruption. No wonder the American people hate us.'

The bill, which passed 357-65 in favor of referring the resolution to the Ethics Committee, directs the committee to "preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives."

Though she sponsored the bill, Mace appears to be upset by the vote to refer the subpoena to the House Ethics Committee because its leadership has made clear that it does not intend to move forward with the disclosure.

Ethics Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and ranking member Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement: “Victims may be re-traumatized by public disclosures of interim work product, excerpts of interview transcripts, and certain exhibits. And witnesses, who often only speak to the Committee confidentially or on condition of future anonymity, could fear retaliation if their cooperation is made public.”

Mace took to X shortly after the resolution was sent to committee to condemn the outcome of the vote.

"Our resolution to expose predators in Congress was killed. Your government is more concerned with protecting predators than protecting women. The establishment watches out for itself," Mace wrote. "Remember this when they ask for your trust. This is what corruption looks like."

RELATED: 'I made a mistake': Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who set herself on fire

Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) signaled her support for the subpoena and said she was disgusted by the move to send the subpoena to the Ethics Committee, which she said is where "stuff" goes to "die."

"I think it is DISGUSTING how Congress protects its own corruption. No wonder the American people hate us," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said on X.

Mace made another post with all of the names of her colleagues who voted in favor of sending the subpoena to the committee. She then admonished them: "Shame on every single one of you who voted to protect predators in Congress over the women they prey on."

Though her first resolution was unsuccessful, Politico reported that Mace did have some success in forcing another vote, this time to subpoena the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights for records about sexual harassment awards and settlements under the Congressional Accountability Act.

Mace was able to successfully force that vote after reaching an agreement with Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) to limit the range of the subpoena to only members of Congress, as well as another small caveat, according to Politico.

Mace celebrated the win on X and made a promise to the American people: "After the full House voted to keep covering up Ethics Committee records of Members of Congress who engaged in sexual harassment records [sic], the Oversight Committee passed our motion to subpoena the taxpayer-funded settlement SLUSH FUND used to silence victims. Every Member of Congress who used your money to silence victims they harassed will be exposed, and we look forward to reviewing the records from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. We will make sure YOU, the people, know their names."

Calls for disclosure of the so-called slush fund have been going on for years. In late 2024, then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called for the release of the payouts and the names associated with them. The "slush fund" was estimated to be over $17 million at the time.

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'always a lie and it’s always America Last'

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