Nablus, July 26, 2026: Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank overnight, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, in the latest escalation of settler violence amid the continuing conflict in the Palestinian territories.
According to Palestinian authorities, one of the attacks targeted a mosque under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said the fire destroyed the mosque’s entrance and caused damage to its stone structure. He added that the attackers spray-painted Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” on the mosque’s walls.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops were dispatched to the outskirts of Qusra after receiving reports of a mosque being set on fire. In a statement, the military said soldiers found evidence of arson and graffiti after the suspects had fled the area. It added that Israeli police had launched an investigation into the incident.
In a separate attack, Palestinian officials said Israeli settlers also torched a mosque in the village of Kour near Tulkarem and defaced its walls with racist slogans. The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the incident, saying the attack targeted a place of worship and reflected a dangerous escalation in settler violence.
The latest incidents come amid heightened tensions across the occupied West Bank, where violence has surged since Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023.
On Friday, clashes in the village of Tell resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israelis. Following the violence, the Israeli military carried out extensive raids in Nablus and surrounding towns, announcing the arrest of dozens of Palestinians as part of what it described as a counter-terrorism operation.
The security operations have disrupted daily life across the region. Residents of Nablus reported severe shortages of fuel on Saturday, with long queues forming at petrol stations as supplies dwindled.
According to Palestinian officials, at least 1,097 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Israeli authorities, meanwhile, say at least 48 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in attacks by Palestinians or during Israeli military operations over the same period.
The occupied West Bank is home to nearly three million Palestinians and more than 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements widely regarded as illegal under international law, a position rejected by Israel. The latest attacks on religious sites are expected to further inflame tensions in an already volatile region.
