Settlers torch mosques and vandalize property in West Bank
Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques, cars, and farmland in the West Bank, Palestinian officials say, amid rising tensions that erupted after a deadly clash near Tal that left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead.
In Qusra, settlers torched an under‑construction mosque and sprayed hate graffiti, while in neighboring Kour another mosque was set ablaze and vandalized.
Police and the Israeli military mobilised in response, with the IDF conducting raids and arresting dozens of Palestinians in a counter‑terror operation, although international observers note settler violence continues to rise.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged “powerful action,” including the possible demolition of the homes of alleged attackers, yet the situation shows little sign of de‑escalation.
Since the 2023 Gaza war, far‑right settlers have intensified attacks across the West Bank, with UN figures indicating that 1,114 Palestinians and 41 Israelis have been killed since the conflict began, underscoring the fragility of the region’s fragile peace.
Settlements, housing 700,000 Jews on land Palestinians claim for a future state, continue to expand illegally under international law, deepening the divide across 3.3 million Palestinians living within the occupied territories.
