Israeli settlers storm and burn two mosques in West Bank amid security concerns

TULKARM AND NABLUS, July 26 (AP) — Israeli settlers stormed two Palestinian mosques in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, setting them ablaze and spray-painting racist slogans on their walls while under the protection of Israeli military forces. The coordinated attacks targeted religious sites in Kur village within the Tulkarm Governorate and Qusra town in the Nablus Governorate, marking a significant escalation in violence against Palestinian holy places.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as armed settlers entered both mosques early Saturday morning. In Kur, flames were seen engulfing parts of the structure before emergency services could arrive to extinguish the fire. Similar destruction occurred in Qusra, where attackers set multiple sections of the mosque on fire and defaced interior walls with hate speech directed at Palestinians.

The incidents have been widely condemned as a systematic campaign aimed at undermining Palestinian religious rights and eroding community stability in the West Bank. International observers noted that the attacks were carried out with apparent impunity, raising serious questions about adherence to international norms designed to protect places of worship during times of conflict or tension.

Israeli military forces were present throughout both incidents but did not intervene to stop the settlers from entering the mosques or igniting fires inside them. Local Palestinian officials stated that security personnel stood by as the destruction unfolded, allowing attackers to operate without immediate resistance. This lack of intervention has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and diplomatic representatives who argue it amounts to complicity in violations of international law.

Palestinian leaders have called for an urgent investigation into Saturday's events, demanding accountability for those responsible and stronger measures to prevent future attacks on religious sites. They emphasized that the targeting of mosques represents a direct assault on Palestinian identity and cultural heritage in the occupied territories.

The Israeli government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the specific incidents or confirmed whether any arrests have been made among the settlers involved. Military spokespeople declined comment when approached for information about the circumstances surrounding the attacks or why forces did not intervene more aggressively to protect the sites.

As of Saturday evening, damage assessments were underway at both locations. Local residents and religious leaders expressed fear that such acts could spark further unrest across the West Bank if left unchecked. The situation remains fluid as authorities work to determine the full extent of the destruction and identify those responsible for orchestrating or participating in the attacks.

Questions remain regarding whether these incidents are isolated events or part of a broader pattern of escalating violence against Palestinian institutions. With tensions already high in the region, the international community is watching closely to see how local authorities respond and what steps will be taken to ensure the safety of religious sites moving forward.