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Israeli settlers attack Palestinian mosque in occupied West Bank during Ramadan

Footage from the scene shows the entrance of the mosque charred, with racist slogans sprayed on its walls
A Palestinian inspects damage to a mosque in Nablus, West Bank, after a settler attack, 23 February, 2026 (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman)
A Palestinian inspects damage to a mosque in Nablus, West Bank, after an Israeli settler attack, 23 February (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman)

Settlers set fire to a mosque south of Nablus, occupied West Bank, amid rising Israeli violence against Palestinians.

The arson attack targeting the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, located southwest of Nablus, occurred early on Monday. 

According to local Palestinian media, the fire engulfed the gates and exterior of the mosque, before residents in the village were able to control it from spreading inside the building. 

Footage circulating online shows the walls and grounds leading into the mosque charred. 

Racist slogans were also sprayed on the mosque's walls, including the words "revenge" and "price tag".

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The latter refers to a tactic used by settlers to vandalise Palestinian property and desecrate religious sites, particularly in the occupied West Bank.

The Islamic Waqf, the organisation that administers the mosque compound, confirmed that settlers attempted to burn down the mosque, adding that it is following up on the incident with the relevant authorities. 

Head of the Tell village council, Naaman Ramadan, noted that the area has faced a number of settler attacks in the past, with no response or action taken by the police or military.

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The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs strongly condemned the assault on Monday. 

Under the protection of Israeli forces, the ministry noted that settler gangs attacked 45 mosques in 2025, underscoring the targeting of places of worship. 

Christian Palestinian communities have also dealt with rising Israeli violence, with over 50,000 residents living in areas facing growing threats from Israeli forces and settlers.

Settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem have been ongoing for years, often carried out with complete impunity and under the protection of Israeli forces. 

Since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, the attacks have escalated, with official data issued by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission noting that around 4,723 cases of settler violence were recorded during 2025.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops and settlers in the past two years, including 217 minors. 

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