HEBRON, West Bank — Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank on Sunday, setting fire to a mosque and damaging homes in an attack that Palestinian officials said also left several residents injured, as tensions continued to rise across the territory.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said settlers entered the village of Tuwana and used flammable materials to ignite the mosque before residents and civil defense crews extinguished the blaze. The ministry said the fire caused extensive damage to the building. Palestinian local officials also reported that two homes were set on fire during the incident.
The Palestinian Red Crescent and local authorities said four Palestinians were injured during the attacks. The circumstances of the injuries could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate official Israeli military statement detailing the incident.
Palestinian officials condemned the attack, describing it as part of a broader increase in settler violence against communities in the occupied West Bank. The Ministry of Endowments called for international action to protect religious sites and civilians, saying attacks on places of worship violated international law.
Violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians has intensified in several parts of the West Bank in recent months. Human rights organizations, Palestinian officials and international observers have reported a rise in attacks on Palestinian communities, including arson, property damage and assaults. Israel has said it investigates incidents of violence and has condemned attacks carried out by extremists, while also citing security threats facing Israeli communities in the territory.
The latest incident follows other reported attacks on mosques and Palestinian property this year. Reuters footage and other verified reporting have documented previous cases in which Palestinian residents accused settlers of torching vehicles and damaging or setting fire to mosques in the West Bank.
The occupied West Bank has experienced heightened instability since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, with frequent Israeli military operations, Palestinian attacks and an increase in reported settler violence. Most countries regard Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.
As of Monday, Palestinian authorities said they were assessing the damage to the mosque and surrounding properties while calls for an investigation into the attack continued. No arrests had been officially announced.
