West Bank Mosque Attacked and Set Ablaze in Suspected Settler Attack
In the early hours of Monday, the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, was reportedly set on fire in an apparent settler attack. Local Palestinian media and multiple international outlets report that the fire engulfed the gates and exterior of the mosque, while the entrance was charred and racist slogans were sprayed on its walls.
Rising Tensions Amidst Ramadan
According to The Times of Israel, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera English, the attack, conducted during the holy month of Ramadan, is the latest in a surge of violence targeting Palestinians. Israeli settlers and military aggression have been escalating in recent years, with several reports of property destruction and physical violence.
This incident comes amidst a broader context of tension in the region. The New York Times reported that settlers in the West Bank have been driving Palestinian families off their land, with a recent example being the family of Rezeq Abu Naim who abandoned their home after enduring two years of attacks.
The Middle East Eye also reported on the death of 19-year-old Palestinian-American Nasrallah Abu Siyam, who was shot dead by Israeli settlers in the village of Mukhmas, east of Ramallah.
Official Reactions and Investigation
In response to the mosque attack, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs strongly condemned the incident. In a statement quoted by The Hindu, the Ministry said, The attempt by a group of settlers to set fire to a part of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, near Nablus, and the writing of racist slogans on its walls,
shows the depths of 'barbarity' of the 'racist Israeli incitement machine'."
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and police forces are reportedly investigating the arson attack, although there has been no official statement on the progress of the investigation.
Implications and Broader Context
The mosque attack, along with the other instances of violence, appear to be part of a broader pattern of settler aggression. The Middle East Eye notes that Israel has recently introduced measures that will expand its civil and military control in the West Bank, undermining Palestinian authority and the Oslo Accords.
Meanwhile, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists alleges serious abuses by Israeli soldiers and prison guards against Palestinian reporters, including beatings, starvation, and sexual violence.
The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Religious Affairs, as quoted by Al Jazeera English, has asserted that Israeli settlers defaced and set fire to a mosque, a clear indication of the escalating tensions in the region.
Current Status
While the investigation into the mosque arson continues, the situation in the West Bank remains tense. The surge in settler and military violence against Palestinians, especially during Ramadan, has increased fears of further conflict and unrest. International observers are closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a de-escalation of violence and a return to peace talks.