Israeli Settlers Torch Two Mosques in West Bank Following Deadly Clashes Near Nablus
Israeli settlers, backed by the military, launched a series of attacks across the occupied West Bank on Sunday morning, setting fire to two mosques in the villages of Qusra and Kour. The attacks occurred following a violent confrontation on Friday where four Palestinians were allegedly killed by Israeli forces and two Israeli soldiers were killed. In Qusra, settlers spray-painted Hebrew slogans including "Jewish revenge" on the walls of a newly completed mosque. In Kour, worshippers managed to extinguish a fire set by three settlers. The Israeli military condemned the incidents, noting that such violence often diverts the defense force's primary mission of counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a security clampdown, deploying troops to seize weapons and make arrests. The administration announced that the military is prepared to act broadly against terrorist nests. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials described the weekend's events as systematic pogroms. Pope Leo XIV called for a just political solution and urged a rejection of actions that violate the status quo of holy sites.
Sources
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Why are Israeli settlers on a rampage in the occupied West Bank?
Al Jazeera
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Israeli settlers set fire to West Bank mosques after deadly clash
NBC News
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2 mosques in the West Bank are set on fire during a deadly surge in settler violence
AP News
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Israeli settlers torch mosques in occupied West Bank
DW.com