Israeli settlers torch two West Bank mosques amid escalating violence

Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday night, spraying Hebrew slogans on the walls as part of a surge in violence against Palestinian religious sites and communities.

In the villages of Jiljilya and Mazraa al-Nubani, north of Ramallah, settlers vandalised and partially burned the mosques, according to reports published on Wednesday. The attacks follow a pattern of escalating settler violence documented across the West Bank, where Israeli forces have killed 1,169 Palestinians since October 2023 . In Jaljulia, another mosque was set ablaze by settlers, as confirmed by Al Jazeera footage .

The incidents coincide with broader restrictions on Palestinian access to religious sites. On Wednesday, Israel assumed control of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, a move that reverses Palestinian administrative authority established under the 1997 Hebron Agreement . The decision has raised concerns about further limitations on Muslim worshippers’ rights in the city.

Elderly Palestinians have also reported targeted attacks by settlers. A 92-year-old man recounted how settlers attempted to set him on fire during an assault in the West Bank, describing the violence as part of a systematic campaign to instil fear .

International aid infrastructure has not been spared. Israeli settlers destroyed schools funded by Finland in the West Bank, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle, underscoring the broader erosion of Palestinian institutions under occupation .

The attacks have drawn condemnation from human rights observers, who point to a climate of impunity for settler violence. Palestinian officials and activists warn that the destruction of mosques and homes is part of a deliberate strategy to displace communities and assert Israeli control over the territory.

With tensions rising, the international community has yet to issue a substantive response to the latest wave of attacks. The escalation comes as ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups staged protests outside an Israeli military prison on Wednesday, reflecting the deepening divisions within Israeli society over the government’s policies in the West Bank .