Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques and defaced buildings with graffiti in Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, according to Palestinian officials. The attacks followed a fatal clash on Friday where four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed during an incursion by settlers near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus.
The incident in Qusra, southeast of Nablus, saw settlers torch a newly completed mosque, spray Hebrew graffiti including "Jewish revenge" and the name of one of the Israelis killed, according to Abdel Azim Wadi, head of the village council. Wadi stated that his village has been repeatedly attacked since 2011, with these assaults escalating since the ongoing conflict began.
International bodies and most countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, a stance Israel disputes. Palestinians aim to establish an independent state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Since the October 2023 war against Hamas in Gaza, settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank have intensified significantly.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops dispatched to Qusra discovered graffiti and signs of arson, initiating a search for suspects. Police officers are expected to collect evidence. A military statement condemned such acts, including the desecration of religious sites, and pledged decisive action to maintain security and public order.
In a separate incident near Kour, southeast of Tulkarm, settlers reportedly attempted to set a mosque ablaze at dawn. Farid Jiyousi, a village council member, stated that worshippers extinguished the fire before it could spread. He noted that attackers also scrawled Hebrew graffiti on the mosque's walls, marking the first such attack on his village.
Following Friday's fatal confrontation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troop reinforcements and announced the authorization of more settlements to bolster security. Figures within his government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have advocated for accelerated annexation of the West Bank, occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.
