- Two mosques in the occupied West Bank were set on fire overnight in an apparent Israeli settler attack, causing extensive damage in the villages of Qusra and Kour.
- Attackers spray-painted revenge Benayahu and the land of Israel is redeemed with blood at the Qusra mosque, referring to an Israeli soldier killed on Friday.
- Security footage showed three people in civilian clothes setting off a large explosion at the entrance of the Kour mosque.
- A local resident said the Israeli military arrived, saw the damage, and left without helping, reflecting a pattern of impunity for settler violence.
- Israel's military stated it was investigating the attack and condemned harm to religious sites, but critics note it rarely prosecutes settlers for such violence.
- The region has seen routine livestock theft, arson, and defacement of mosques, with 87 Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year, including 21 by settlers.
Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the West Bank, causing significant damage during a weekend marked by escalating violence. The attacks occurred in the villages of Qusra and Kour, where security footage captured individuals setting off explosions at the mosques.12
In Qusra, the attackers left messages such as “revenge Benayahu” and “the land of Israel is redeemed with blood”, referencing one of the Israeli soldiers killed in recent violence. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 87 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank this year, including 21 by Israeli settlers.3
Israel's military has stated it is investigating the incidents, emphasizing that it “strongly condemn[s] incidents of this kind, including harm to religious sites”. However, critics note that investigations often lead to few arrests or prosecutions of settlers involved in violence. Reports of livestock theft, arson, and mosque defacement are common in the region, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinians.
The recent violence has raised concerns about the security situation in the West Bank, as both sides grapple with the implications of these attacks and the broader conflict.
“The attack targeted the villages of Qusra and Kour, where attackers spray-painted 'revenge Benayahu' referencing an Israeli soldier killed Friday. Security footage showed three civilians setting off explosions, and Israel's military said it is investigating but rarely prosecutes settlers for such violence.”
The Independent
