West Bank: Palestinian officials said that Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, amid escalating tensions and violence in the territory following a deadly confrontation earlier this week.
According to Palestinian authorities, one mosque under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, was damaged after settlers allegedly set its entrance on fire and spray-painted Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” on its walls. A second mosque in the village of Kour, near Tulkarem, was also targeted in a separate incident. Local residents reportedly managed to extinguish the fire before it caused extensive damage.
The Israeli military confirmed receiving reports of arson at the mosque in Qusra, stating that troops were dispatched to the area, found signs of fire damage and graffiti, and that Israeli police had opened an investigation into the incident. The military did not immediately identify those responsible.
The attacks came just days after a deadly clash near the village of Tal in the northern West Bank, where four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed during confrontations involving armed settlers and Israeli forces. Violence in the occupied West Bank has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with frequent raids, settler attacks, and military operations contributing to rising casualties and growing international concern.
Palestinian officials condemned the mosque attacks as part of an escalating pattern of settler violence against Palestinian communities and called for greater international action to protect civilians and religious sites. Israeli authorities said the incidents would be investigated.
