Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque and vandalized it with hateful messages in a Palestinian village in the central West Bank overnight, as an act of defiance following a previous attack by settlers against Palestinians. The mosque in the town of Deir Istiya had a wall, three copies of the Qur’an, and some carpeting torched during the incident.
Graffiti messages such as “we are not afraid,” “we will revenge again,” and “keep on condemning” were left by the settlers on one side of the mosque, possibly referencing Major General Avi Bluth, who criticized the violence the day before. The Israeli military investigated the scene but has not yet identified any suspects, transferring the case to the Israeli police and security agency.
The torching of the mosque is part of a series of attacks that have drawn concern from top officials, military leaders, and the U.S. administration. While Israeli authorities try to portray settler violence as isolated incidents, Palestinians and rights groups argue that it is widespread and carried out with impunity under the current Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not addressed the recent surge in violence.
The recent condemnations stem from a bold attack by masked settlers who set fire to property in Palestinian villages, leading to clashes with soldiers. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir condemned the violence, emphasizing the need to eradicate such acts.
Settler violence has a long history in the region, with incidents targeting the mosque in Deir Istiya in the past. The violence has escalated over the years, with a significant increase in attacks recorded in recent times. Palestinians accuse settlers of aiming to push them off their lands, with many being displaced due to violence and restrictions.
The Israeli government’s close ties to the settler movement have raised concerns about accountability, as investigations into settler violence often end without indictments. The lack of decisive action against settlers by the authorities has fueled tensions in the region, with human rights groups calling for greater accountability and protection for Palestinian communities.