Israeli settlers have set fire to two mosques, alongside vandalizing cars and agricultural land in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. These incidents follow a violent confrontation near the village of Tal two days prior, which resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israelis. Both sides have exchanged accusations of provocation.
The attacks have further heightened tensions in the West Bank, a territory experiencing a surge in settler violence against Palestinians, which Palestinian officials attribute to encouragement from far-right elements within the Israeli government. Palestinian reports indicate that overnight attacks on villages included vandalism of vehicles, theft of property, and the spray-painting of hate graffiti on walls.
In the village of Qusra, a mosque under construction was reportedly set ablaze by settlers, with the word "revenge" spray-painted on its walls, according to the village mayor. In a separate incident in the village of Kour, settlers are also accused of setting fire to another mosque and defacing its walls with slogans. The Israeli military stated that troops were dispatched to Qusra and that police would investigate.
Since the fatal clash on Friday, Palestinians report multiple settler attacks across West Bank villages. In response to the violence, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted raids and arrested dozens of Palestinians as part of a "counter-terrorism" operation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged "powerful action" following the incident in Tal, including the potential demolition of the homes of two Palestinians allegedly involved.
There has been a significant increase in settler attacks in the West Bank in recent months, drawing international condemnation but little sign of abatement. The situation had already deteriorated before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, but settler violence has escalated since the subsequent conflict in Gaza began. According to UN figures, 1,114 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, with the majority by the IDF, and at least 35 deaths linked to settler attacks. During the same period, 41 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the West Bank.
Israel has established numerous settlements housing 700,000 Jews since occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. These settlements are considered illegal under international law. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians reside in the territory alongside these settlements, which Palestinians hope to include in a future state along with Gaza.