Nablus (HRNW)- Palestinian authorities have accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank, further escalating tensions in the region.
According to foreign news agencies, the first incident occurred in the town of Qasra, south of Nablus, where a mosque under construction was set ablaze. The town’s mayor, Abdul Azim Wadi, said the fire damaged the mosque’s main gate, interior, and stone walls.
He added that the attackers also painted Hebrew slogans on the mosque’s walls, including the word “revenge.”
The Israeli army confirmed that soldiers reached the scene after receiving reports of the fire, but the suspected attackers had already fled. According to the army, evidence of arson and graffiti was found at the site, while the Israeli police have launched an investigation into the incident.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said that Israeli settlers also set fire to a mosque in the village of Kor, near Tulkarm, and painted racist slogans on its walls.
The incidents come amid a rise in Israeli military operations and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank.
According to reports, four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the village of Tal on Friday. Following the violence, the Israeli army conducted operations in Nablus and surrounding areas, arresting several Palestinians.
According to Palestinian sources, at least 1,097 Palestinians have been killed in operations carried out by the Israeli army and settlers in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
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