Arson Attacks Target Religious Sites in Two Villages
Israeli settlers attacked two Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early on Sunday.
The attackers set fire to two mosques and sprayed Hebrew graffiti on walls and nearby buildings, according to Palestinian officials.
One attack occurred in Qusra, southeast of Nablus.
Village council head Abdel Azim Wadi said settlers torched a newly completed mosque before leaving the area.
Graffiti found at the site reportedly included messages calling for revenge.
Some slogans also referred to an Israeli killed during recent violence near the Palestinian village of Tal.
Residents later inspected fire damage inside the mosque and surrounding sections of the building.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops found evidence of arson and graffiti after arriving in Qusra.
It said the suspects had already escaped before security personnel reached the village.
Israeli authorities said police would collect evidence and search for those responsible.
The military condemned attacks against religious sites and promised action to maintain security and public order.
A second mosque was targeted in Kour, southeast of Tulkarm.
Palestinian officials said three settlers attempted to set the building on fire around dawn.
Local worshippers discovered the flames and extinguished them before the fire spread through the main prayer area.
Hebrew graffiti was also found on the mosque walls.
A village council member said it was the first known settler attack against the community.
Attacks Follow Deadly Violence Near Tal
The mosque attacks followed a deadly confrontation near Tal, southwest of Nablus, on Friday.
Four Palestinians and two Israelis serving with the military were killed during the violence.
One of the Israelis was also reportedly acting as a local security coordinator.
Palestinian officials said armed settlers entered the area around Tal before residents left their homes to confront them.
The confrontation later developed into an exchange of gunfire involving villagers, settlers and Israeli forces.
The Israeli military initially described those who entered the area as hikers.
It later confirmed that some of the Israeli civilians were armed.
The incident occurred in an area under Palestinian administrative control where Israeli civilians are generally prohibited from entering.
Israeli forces launched a major operation in Tal following the confrontation.
Dozens of Palestinian residents were detained and questioned.
Palestinian officials said security forces searched homes and restricted movement around the village.
The Israeli military said it questioned approximately 80 people and arrested several individuals suspected of involvement in the violence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also ordered additional military deployments in the region.
He announced plans for punitive measures and further settlement expansion following the deaths.
Rising Settler Violence Deepens West Bank Crisis
The latest arson attacks are part of a broader rise in settler violence across the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian villages have reported assaults, shootings, property destruction, livestock theft and attacks on agricultural land.
United Nations figures show that dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured during settler-related incidents this year.
Violence has increased sharply since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Palestinian officials say repeated attacks are intended to frighten communities and force residents from areas near Israeli settlements.
Israeli human rights organisations have also criticised the limited number of prosecutions arising from settler attacks.
Most countries and United Nations bodies consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law.
Israel rejects that position and disputes the legal interpretation applied by much of the international community.
Palestinians seek the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza for a future independent state.
The continuing expansion of settlements has made that objective increasingly difficult.
Hardline members of Netanyahu’s government have called for faster settlement construction and greater Israeli control over the West Bank.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other far-right politicians have openly supported annexation measures.
Critics warn that settlement growth and unchecked violence could destroy remaining prospects for a negotiated political solution.
The mosque attacks have added to fears of further retaliation and communal violence.
Palestinian communities are demanding stronger protection and accountability.
Israeli authorities say investigations are continuing, but no arrests connected to the mosque fires were immediately announced.
