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West Bank mosque torched as settler violence escalates
Scorched debris and charred furniture littered the grounds of Hamida Mosque near Deir Istiya on Friday, a day after Jewish settlers allegedly set it ablaze in the latest of a wave of attacks across the occupied West Bank. Dozens of worshippers gathered for prayers in defiance, their backs turned toward the blackened walls-one of which bore Hebrew graffiti directed at Israel's regional military commander: "We're not afraid of you, Avi Bluth."
Imam condemns 'message of terror'
Ahmad Salman, the mosque's imam, told the BBC the attack was a deliberate provocation. "The message they want to send is that they can reach anywhere-into cities, into villages, that they can kill civilians and burn houses and mosques," he said. "I feel it in my soul. It's not right to touch places of prayer, wherever they are."
Thursday's arson follows a six-week surge in settler violence that has drawn rare rebuke from Israeli military leaders. Despite a handful of arrests and investigations, rights groups argue government backing for expansionist settlers is fueling the crisis.
Record-breaking violence amid olive harvest
The annual olive harvest-a flashpoint for clashes-has seen unprecedented bloodshed this year. UN data shows over 260 settler attacks in October alone, the highest monthly toll since records began in 2006. More than 3,200 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by violence and restrictions since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, per UN figures.
Recent days brought multiple incidents, including a masked mob torching trucks at an industrial estate near Beit Lid. Security footage captured attackers storming the site before clashing with Israeli soldiers. Police detained four suspects; three were later released.
Journalist, medic beaten during coverage
Reuters photographer Raneen Sawafta was hospitalized after a settler struck her helmet with a club while she documented the harvest in Beita. Hamad al-Jagoub, a Red Crescent volunteer who rushed to her aid, suffered a head injury from a thrown rock. "If they had an iota of humanity, they would never do this to a woman," he said. "If it wasn't for her helmet, she could have died."
Three weeks earlier, 55-year-old Afaf Abu Alia was beaten with a club during a settler assault near Abu Falah. "I fell down. My mind went blank-I only felt the pain," she recalled. With 20 stitches in her head and lingering bruises, she vowed to return to her land: "I'm not afraid of them." One arrest was made in her case, though convictions for such crimes remain exceedingly rare.
Military condemns 'anarchist fringe' as tensions rise
Israel's army chief called settler violence "a red line", while Central Command head Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth-named in the mosque's graffiti-termed recent attacks by "anarchist fringe youth" "unacceptable." Yet hardline settlers dismiss the outrage. Amichai Luria, a Ma'ale Levona resident, told the BBC: "Some Jews bothered olive pickers? Give me a break. There are more muggings in London."
Luria accused Palestinians of exaggerating incidents to "make Jews look bad", claiming most "would follow Hamas or Hezbollah" if given the chance. His remarks contrast sharply with UN data: of 1,000 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since October 2023, 20-32 were linked to settlers; 19 Israeli civilians were killed by Palestinians in the same period.
Government policies under scrutiny
Critics point to state support for settler expansion, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's distribution of 100,000+ weapons to civilian squads and calls for West Bank annexation. The defense minister's 2023 ban on administrative detention for Jewish settlers-still applied to Palestinians-has further strained military-police relations. Army leaders now seek its reinstatement to curb violence.
Settler Amichai Luria's distrust of the military reflects broader divisions: "A lot of people in the army are anti-Israel. The army is not unified." The scandal over leaked videos allegedly showing soldier abuse of Palestinian detainees has deepened the rift between ultranationalist politicians and security forces.
'Pushed into a corner': Palestinians warn of escalation
Wadi abu Awad, a civil engineer from Turmus Aya-a village repeatedly targeted-warned of a breaking point: "We're not fighting Israelis. We don't kill soldiers. But if the cat is pushed into a corner, he might become a tiger."
Israeli activist Martin Goldberg, visiting Hamida Mosque in solidarity, rejected claims that attacks were minor: "They're extremely major. The government and local councils are 100% behind them-financing them." While some settler councils have condemned violence, the West Bank Settler Council's chairman this week backed army efforts to arrest "anarchists" harming soldiers and civilians.
"The future is very simple. Hopefully the army will wake up... They're coming for us."
Amichai Luria, settler and winery manager
