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An Israeli soldier poses in front of the Saint Joseph Church in the Israeli-occupied village of Qaouzah, South Lebanon. Photo taken from the X account of Fouad Khreis (fouadkhreiss) Add as preferred on Google She poses, smiling, in front of Saint Joseph Church in the occupied Christian village of Qaouzah, in Bint Jbeil district in southern Lebanon. The photo of the Israeli soldier circulated on social media Wednesday, sparking outrage. In the image, the church, its entrance blocked by a mound of earth, stands amid a field of ruins.Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour, mayor Charbel Rizk called for the preservation of the church and demanded safe access to the village. Vincent Gélot, director of the French Catholic association L'Œuvre d'Orient, echoed the appeal, saying, "It is unacceptable to attack religious sanctuaries."Rizk urged Pope Leo XIV and the Lebanese authorities to "preserve this 120-year-old church." He stressed that local residents had a deep connection to the building. "Our ancestors built the... You have reached your article limitStay informed about a Middle East in crisis.Subscribe for $0.5/month for the first 3 months. Subscribe now Log in This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers. Subscribe now Log in Create a free account to continue reading this article. You’ll also receive The Morning Brief, our must-read daily digest of Middle East news. Opt out anytime Email Address Password Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook
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