Israeli settlers set fire to mosque in West Bank

Radical Israeli settlers have vandalised and set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Thursday. It said the settlers had sprayed racist slogans on the walls of the mosque, located in a village in the north-west of the territory, early in the morning. Other media outlets […]

Radical Israeli settlers have vandalised and set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Thursday.

It said the settlers had sprayed racist slogans on the walls of the mosque, located in a village in the north-west of the territory, early in the morning.

Other media outlets said that the graffiti included insults against the Prophet Mohammed in Hebrew.

The Israeli military said it was investigating the allegations.

There were no initial reports of injuries, but footage circulating in Palestinian and Israeli media showed damage to the place of worship.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the attacks as “shocking and serious.” Herzog’s position, while largely ceremonial, is meant to serve as a moral compass and unifying force for the country.

Herzog said that the violence committed by a “handful” of perpetrators “crosses a red line”, adding in a social media post that “all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon.”

The Israeli army’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, echoed Herzog’s condemnations of the West Bank violence, saying that the military “will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals who tarnish a law-abiding public.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday “strongly” condemned the attack by illegal Israeli settlers on a mosque in the occupied West Bank.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the reported attack by Israeli settlers on a mosque in Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank,” said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference, adding that “such acts of violence and desecration of religious sites are unacceptable.”

“Religious sites must be respected and protected at all times,” Guterres said, condemning “all attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank.”

“Such incidents are part of an increasing pattern of extremist violence that is inflaming tensions and must stop immediately,” the spokesperson said.

Dujarric also noted that “Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population and ensure that those responsible for attacks are held accountable.”

(dpa/NAN)

Violence by radical settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has increased since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, which was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

Since then, there has also been an overall increase in deadly attacks involving Palestinians and the Israeli army in the West Bank.

The Israeli military is frequently accused of not taking firm enough action against settler violence.