Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Villages, Set Fire to Mosques

Israeli settlers launched attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and spray-painting graffiti on buildings, according to Palestinian officials. The assaults occurred in Qusra, southeast of Nablus, where settlers torched a newly completed mosque. Graffiti in Hebrew, including messages like "Jewish revenge" and the name of an Israeli killed in a prior incident, was found on its walls.

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The mosque was in its final stage and was ready to receive worshippers. It had already been furnished with couches. They set it on fire and spray-painted Hebrew slogans on its walls.

These actions followed a violent confrontation on Friday near the Palestinian village of Tal, southwest of Nablus. During the incident, four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers died when a group of armed settlers approached the village. Video appeared to show one Palestinian grabbing a settler's weapon. Palestinian authorities claim settlers provoked the violence, while the Israeli military stated shots were fired by both sides.

The Palestinian Prime Minister's office denounced the settler actions as "Israeli state-backed settler terrorism" intensifying into "systematic pogroms." They highlighted that these incidents are part of a broader assault on Palestinians. The Israeli military confirmed that troops responding to Qusra found signs of arson and graffiti and were searching for suspects. They issued a statement condemning such violence, including harm to religious sites, and pledged decisive action to maintain security and public order.

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Israeli state-backed settler terrorism is intensifying into systematic pogroms across the occupied West Bank.

An Israeli military official noted that such violence by Israelis diverts the defense force's attention from its primary mission of defense and counter-terrorism in a complex environment. The official also mentioned that troops arrested individuals over the weekend. The article also notes that clashes involving settlers have resulted in dozens of Palestinian deaths and hundreds of injuries this year, according to UN and Palestinian Authority figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a major security operation against what he termed "terrorism against Israeli civilians," reinforcing West Bank units and canceling leave.

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The security forces strongly condemn incidents of this kind, including harm to religious sites, and will continue to act decisively to maintain security and public order in the area.