Israeli settlers torch two mosques in West Bank as Tension rise

WEST BANK: Two mosques were set ablaze in the occupied West Bank overnight, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, in the latest escalation of violence that has sharply raised tensions across the territory.

The attacks targeted a mosque under construction in Qusra, south of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kour, near Tulkarm. The incidents came only days after a deadly confrontation in the nearby village of Tal that left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead.

In Qusra, Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said settlers set fire to the mosque’s entrance and damaged parts of its stonework. Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” was reportedly sprayed across the walls.

The Israeli military said troops were sent to the area after receiving reports of the fire. According to the army, the suspected attackers had already fled when soldiers arrived. Israeli police were expected to collect evidence and investigate the incident.

The second attack took place in Kour, where Palestinian officials said a mosque was set alight and racist slogans were written on its walls. Worshippers and local residents managed to prevent the fire from causing further destruction, according to reports.

The mosque attacks have added another disturbing chapter to a widening cycle of violence in the West Bank, where clashes, arson attacks and raids have intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The latest incidents also follow a deadly confrontation in Tal on Friday, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. The aftermath has triggered further arrests, raids and attacks in surrounding Palestinian communities.

With tensions already running high, the torching of places of worship has raised fresh fears that the latest violence could fuel further retaliation and deepen an already volatile situation across the occupied territory.