Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to two mosques, torched vehicles and damaged farmland in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials, further escalating tensions in the territory.
The incidents occurred two days after deadly clashes near the village of Tal, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. Both sides have accused each other of provoking the violence.
Palestinian authorities said two villages came under attack overnight, with homes and vehicles vandalised, property stolen and walls defaced with hate graffiti. In the village of Qusra, Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi said settlers set fire to a mosque that was still under construction and spray-painted graffiti, including the word “revenge,” on its walls.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops were deployed to the area, adding that police had opened an investigation and were gathering evidence.Palestinian officials also reported that another mosque was set ablaze in the nearby village of Kour, where similar graffiti was left on the building. Residents say the violence has intensified since Friday’s deadly confrontation in Tal, with several Palestinian communities reporting fresh attacks by settlers.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it arrested more than 130 people over the weekend during what it described as a counter-terrorism operation across the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take what he described as “powerful action” following the killings in Tal, including the possible demolition of the homes of two Palestinians allegedly linked to the attack. Residents of the village of Sarra also recounted attacks on their community.
Hanan Turabi said settlers set fire to several homes, forcing her to flee with her four children as her house burned. Another resident, Kaied Ahmad Turabi, who was visiting from the United States, said he was injured while trying to defend his family’s property.
He described being attacked by masked settlers carrying sticks and other weapons. Hours after the incident, Palestinian residents gathered to defend the village after settlers were again spotted nearby. Israeli soldiers intervened to separate both groups, while tear gas was fired to disperse Palestinian youths.
The Israeli military said it was working to prevent what it described as “nationalist crime,” its term for attacks carried out by extremist settlers. However, rights groups have continued to express concern over the expansion of unauthorized settlement outposts, arguing that they have contributed to a rise in attacks against Palestinians.
According to the United Nations, violence in the West Bank has increased significantly since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The UN says more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, with at least 35 deaths involving settler attacks. It also reports that 41 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the territory.
Israel has established hundreds of settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since capturing the territories in the 1967 Middle East war. The settlements are regarded as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes that position.
