Israeli settlers set fire to mosques, vandalize property in West Bank villages

Settlers attacked two Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank overnight, setting fire to two mosques and vandalizing cars and homes, according to Palestinian officials. The incidents came two days after a deadly clash between settlers and Palestinians near the village of Tal.

In the village of Qusra, settlers set fire to a mosque under construction and spray painted graffiti on its walls, including the word "revenge," according to Qusra's mayor, Abdul Azim Wadi, as reported by BBC World. In a separate incident the same night, settlers set fire to another mosque in the village of Kour and sprayed slogans on its walls. Palestinian reports say that vehicles were vandalized, property was stolen, and hate graffiti was spray painted on walls across both villages.

The Israeli military said troops were sent to Qusra and that police would investigate and collect evidence. The timing of the attacks directly follows a Friday clash near Tal that killed four Palestinians and two Israelis, per BBC World reporting. Both sides accused the other of provoking that initial violence. Since the Tal clash, Palestinians report multiple settler attacks have occurred across West Bank villages.

In response to the Tal clash, the Israel Defense Forces carried out raids and arrested dozens of Palestinians in what it called a "counter-terrorism" operation, according to BBC World. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to take "powerful action" in response, including the possible demolition of homes belonging to two Palestinians alleged to be involved in the Tal incident.

West Bank violence has accelerated sharply since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The United Nations reports 1,114 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, with the vast majority killed by the Israeli Defense Forces and at least 35 deaths involving settler attacks. The UN also reports 41 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the West Bank in the same period.

Israel has built hundreds of settlements housing approximately 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since occupying the territory during the 1967 Middle East war, according to BBC World. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank alongside Israeli settlers. The settlements are illegal under international law, per BBC World reporting.