Israel tears down Lebanon’s Saint George statue during Palm Sunday celebrations

Lebanese media reported that the statue of Saint George was demolished by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon as Christians were celebrating Palm Sunday in a new violation of the November cease-fire agreement.

The state news agency NNA said Sunday that the statue was razed in the border town of Yaroun.

“A video showed an Israeli military bulldozer bringing down the statue,” the broadcaster said.

Former Lebanese Labor Minister Moustafa Bayram shared on X a video documenting the moment of the demolition of the statue of Saint George by Israeli forces. The exact date of the demolition, however, was not specified.

The Israeli army “shamelessly documented the act, reaffirming its hostility to anything other than itself, and that it is a foreign, occupying entity that has no place among the peoples and communities of this region,” he said.

There was no comment from the Israeli army on the report.

Christians worldwide consider Palm Sunday significant as it commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, where he was hailed as a king, according to Christian beliefs.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place in Lebanon since November 2024, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,440 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 125 victims and injuries to more than 371.

Under the cease-fire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.