Settlers Torch and Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan
The incident highlights a documented surge in settler violence, with official tallies showing sharp year-over-year increases.
Overview
- Worshippers arriving before dawn found the entrance of the Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Mosque in Tell near Nablus scorched and spray-painted with slurs including “revenge” and “price tag.”
- A local resident said security camera footage showed two people carrying gasoline and spray paint approach the mosque and flee a few minutes later.
- Israeli military and police said they responded to the scene and are searching for suspects, and the army stated it strongly condemns harm to religious institutions.
- Hamas denounced the attack as “a fascist and organized crime” and, along with the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs, urged protection of holy sites and international accountability; the ministry reports 45 mosques were targeted in 2025.
- Broader trend data cite a rise in settler incidents, with Israel’s military reporting 867 attacks in 2025, up 27% from 2024, and a Palestinian commission logging 4,723 incidents; some outlets allege the arsonists acted under Israeli forces’ protection, a claim not independently verified in these reports.