Israeli settlers set fire to and vandalized a mosque in a Palestinian village in the central West Bank overnight, leaving hateful messages as an act of defiance. The mosque in Deir Istiya, a Palestinian town, had one wall, three copies of the Qur’an, and parts of the carpeting burnt when visited by an Associated Press reporter. Graffiti on the mosque’s wall included messages like “we are not afraid,” “we will revenge again,” and “keep on condemning,” referencing Maj. Gen Avi Bluth, who condemned the violence. The Israeli military sent troops to investigate but had not identified any suspects yet, transferring the case to Israeli police and security agencies.
The torching of the mosque is part of a series of attacks that have drawn concern from top officials, military leaders, and the Trump administration. Israeli officials have tried to portray settler violence as the actions of a few extremists, while Palestinians and rights groups argue that the violence is widespread and carried out with impunity under Israel’s far-right government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In response to a recent attack where masked Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles and property in Palestinian villages, Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the assaults as “shocking and serious.” The army reported that settlers fled to an industrial zone and attacked soldiers, resulting in four arrests and four Palestinians wounded. Herzog emphasized the need for decisive action to eradicate such violence, which he deemed crossing a red line. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir of the Israeli army reiterated the commitment to stopping violent acts by settlers.
Settler violence in the West Bank has a long history, with instances of attacks on the same mosque in Deir Istiya in the past. The violence escalated before the Gaza war two years ago and has been on the rise, with the highest number of recorded attacks in October. Palestinians claim the violence aims to displace them from their lands, with thousands displaced due to settler actions since 2023. Settlers, emboldened by the government, have expanded settlements and established new outposts, encroaching on Palestinian territories.
Critics accuse the Israeli government of failing to halt settler attacks, with a high percentage of cases remaining unresolved or resulting in minimal convictions. The domination of far-right voices in the government, including those supporting the settler movement, raises concerns about the lack of accountability for settler violence.
Overall, settler violence in the West Bank remains a contentious issue, with ongoing clashes and incidents drawing international attention and condemnation.
