Jewish settlers attempt to burn mosque in West Bank: Palestinian official

A mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Tuwani was allegedly set ablaze by Jewish settlers late at night, according to Palestinian officials. An AFP journalist observed a scorched mosque entrance and Hebrew graffiti on its walls following the incident.

The attack on the Al-Taqwa mosque comes as settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank has escalated since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. Village council chief Mohammed Rabie told AFP that more than a dozen masked settlers attacked the mosque, also burning two homes and a dairy factory before fleeing as villagers emerged.

Local volunteers managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread further. Images showed a damaged mosque interior, including burnt prayer carpets. Rabie expressed gratitude that the attack did not result in casualties, though the dairy factory, run by women from the Masafer Yatta community, suffered severe damage.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and violence in the region.

“

We are grateful that this attack did not turn into a tragedy that claimed lives.