Two Mosques Set Ablaze in Separate West Bank Attacks as Tensions Escalate
RAMALLAH, July 26: Two mosques were damaged in separate arson attacks across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, prompting strong condemnation from Palestinian authorities amid rising tensions in the territory.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, one attack targeted a mosque in the village of Kur, south of Tulkarem, where assailants allegedly entered the village, set part of the building on fire and spray-painted racist graffiti on its walls before leaving the scene. Local residents managed to extinguish the flames, preventing more extensive damage.
In a separate incident, Al-Rahma Mosque, which was under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, was also set on fire. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said the blaze destroyed construction materials and equipment stored at the site.
The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs described the attacks as a “heinous crime” and accused Israeli settlers of repeatedly targeting religious sites. The ministry said 45 mosques across the occupied West Bank have been attacked during 2025, alleging that the incidents occurred under the protection of Israeli forces.
Violence was also reported in the nearby town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, where, according to Palestinian security sources cited by WAFA, attackers set fire to a Palestinian home and painted anti-Arab graffiti on nearby property. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control, limiting the damage.
The latest incidents come amid a broader surge in violence across the occupied West Bank. On Friday, clashes in the town of Tell, near Nablus, resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians, while two Israelis were also killed during the confrontation, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
Following the unrest, Israeli forces imposed security restrictions around Nablus, conducted a series of arrest raids and announced preparations for expanded military operations in the area.
According to official Palestinian figures, at least 1,182 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, while thousands have been injured and around 24,000 people detained.
The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported earlier this month that 3,488 attacks against Palestinians and their property were recorded during the first half of 2025, including shootings, arson attacks, land seizures and assaults on villages.
Palestinian officials argue that the increase in violence and settlement-related activity threatens the prospects for a future independent Palestinian state and further complicates efforts to achieve a negotiated peace.
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