Israeli settlers set fire to mosques, cars and farm land in West Bank, Palestinians say - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reported that Palestinian officials accused Israeli settlers of attacking villages in the occupied West Bank overnight, including setting fire to two mosques, cars and agricultural land. The incidents were reported in Qusra and Kour, amid heightened tensions following deadly violence two days earlier near the village of Tal, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. Each side blamed the other for triggering that earlier confrontation.

According to the BBC, the mayor of Qusra, Abdul Azim Wadi, said settlers burned a mosque still under construction and sprayed graffiti including the word “revenge” on its walls. Palestinian officials said another mosque in Kour was also set alight and marked with slogans. The Israeli military said troops were sent to Qusra and that police would investigate and gather evidence. Palestinian residents also described attacks on homes and property in nearby villages, with the BBC speaking to people who said buildings were torched and stones thrown.

The BBC reported that Israel’s military said it was trying to prevent what it calls “nationalist crime,” while also carrying out weekend raids in which more than 130 people were arrested in a stated counter-terrorism operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised “powerful action” after the Tal killings, including possible home demolitions for two Palestinians allegedly involved. The BBC also noted his pledge to accelerate the establishment and legalisation of farm outposts in the West Bank.

The violence comes during a broader surge in West Bank unrest since the Gaza war began after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. The BBC cited UN figures saying 1,114 Palestinians and 41 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank since then. Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.