Israeli forces gathered around the al-Hajj Hamid Mosque in the occupied West Bank, according to photos taken at the scene. Getty Images
Israeli settlers stormed a mosque in the northern West Bank on Thursday. They set parts of the Hajjah Hamidah Mosque on fire. They sprayed insults on the walls. Palestinian officials reported the attack and urged quick action. They warned that the region faces rising threats.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs released a strong statement. The ministry called the mosque assault “a heinous crime and a blatant assault on the feelings of Muslims.” Officials said settlers now strike holy sites almost every day. They said these groups target mosques and private property. They noted a clear rise in the scale and intensity of these incidents.
Local Officials Raise Alarm
The Mayor of Deir Istiya described the scene. He said settlers struck the mosque before morning prayers. He stressed that attackers aimed to provoke Muslims. “Many houses and cars were not attacked, but rather the attack was on a religious symbol to provoke Muslims with offensive phrases against the Prophet [Muhammad] and Muslims,” Abdul Rahim Zidan said.
Images from the site showed Hebrew graffiti on the walls. One phrase read, “Mohammed is a pig.” Another message said, “Not afraid of Avi Bluth.” Bluth leads the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank. He condemned settler attacks the day before and called the attackers an “anarchist fringe youth.”
Fire damaged the mosque’s interior. Blackened walls and twisted debris covered the floor. Shattered windows showed the force of the flames.
Official Responses
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a sharp statement. It said the government “holds the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for this crime and its consequences.”
The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged the assault. It said troops reached the site and checked the area. Officials turned the case over to the Israel Police. The IDF noted that “no suspects were identified.”
About 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians seek both regions for a future state. Many international bodies consider the settlements illegal.
Attacks Surge Across the Region
Settler strikes grew stronger in recent weeks. Many attacks hit olive groves during the busy harvest season. A recent United Nations report said settlers carried out at least 264 attacks in October. The report noted the highest monthly total since tracking began in 2006.
On Tuesday, dozens of settlers launched a large arson raid in Beit Lid. They burned an agricultural area and destroyed a new dairy plant. They also torched cars and tents in a nearby Bedouin community. Footage from the scene showed settlers pouring fuel on vehicles and lighting them.
A dairy company executive named Monjed Aljuneidi described a chaotic scene. He said dozens of settlers climbed the fences. “I think it was just a message to scare us, to scare our employees… to try to enforce their reality on the ground… (but) we will continue operations, they can’t stop us,” he said.
Residents in Deir Sharaf reported injuries. They said settlers beat locals and killed livestock. One 15-year-old boy said the raid terrified families. “It was terrifying, especially for the women and children…I was defensless against 100 of them…we need protection from the state,” he told reporters.
Israeli Police said they arrested four suspects. By the next evening, officers released three.
Palestinian officials said the assaults “affirm the increasing terrorism and crimes of the settlers” and urged international groups to step in.
