In a lead-up to the outbreak of further violence in the West Bank, Israeli settlers have allegedly set fire to two mosques, vandalised cars and burnt agricultural land, reports Palestinian officials.
The incidents come two days after a clash near the village of Tal that left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead. Both sides blame each other for provoking the violence.
Palestinian sources say that overnight, settlers attacked the two villages of Qusra and Kour: cars were smashed and property stolen, while hate graffiti was spray‑painted on walls. In Qusra, the mayor announced that a mosque under construction was set ablaze, and Abdul Azim Wadi said that settlers wrote the word “revenge” on its walls. In Kour, another mosque was similarly torched and slogans sprayed.
The Israeli military said troops were moved to Qusra, with police to investigate and gather evidence. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces conducted raids and arrests in what it called a “counter‑terrorism” operation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, pledging “powerful action.” He hinted at the possible demolition of homes owned by the two Palestinians allegedly involved in the blast.
The West Bank has seen a sharp rise in settler attacks over recent months, drawing international condemnation yet showing little signs of reversal. The violence can be traced back to early tensions before the Hamas‑led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, and has escalated further into the current Gaza war.
According to the UN, 1,114 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, most by the IDF. At least 35 deaths involved settler attacks. The UN also records 41 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations since the war started.
Israel has built hundreds of settlements over 700,000 Jewish residents across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967, land that Palestinians consider integral to a future state. These settlements remain illegal under international law, while 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them today.
