Settlers torch mosque in Deir Istiya and scrawl threatening messages
In the central West Bank town of Deir Istiya, Israeli settlers overnight set fire to and vandalized a local mosque, burning part of an exterior wall, several copies of the Quran and sections of the prayer carpeting, an Associated Press reporter found on Thursday.
Spray-painted Hebrew messages on one side of the building read phrases such as "we are not afraid," "we will revenge again," and "keep on condemning." The scrawled Hebrew, difficult to decipher in places, appeared to reference Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the head of the military’s Central Command, who had publicly denounced earlier settler attacks the previous day.
Soldiers from Israel's military were reported at the scene; the military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not publicly addressed the recent uptick in settler-related violence as of Thursday.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio warned at a Wednesday briefing that there is "some concern about events in the West Bank spilling over and creating an effect that could undermine what we’re doing in Gaza."
The mosque attack is the latest in a string of incidents that have drawn concern from senior Israeli officials, the military and international observers. Young settlers have carried out hundreds of attacks since the war in Gaza began two years ago, and assaults have intensified in recent weeks as Palestinians harvest olive trees during the annual season. The United Nations’ humanitarian office reported that October was the month with the highest number of recorded settler attacks in the West Bank since it began tracking such incidents in 2006.
On Tuesday, dozens of masked settlers reportedly attacked the West Bank villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles and other property on fire and later clashing with Israeli soldiers.
President Isaac Herzog described the recent incidents as "shocking and serious," adding his voice to criticism from senior military figures. Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, said the actions of a "handful" of perpetrators "crosses a red line" and urged that "all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon."
Israel’s army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, likewise condemned the violence, saying the military "will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals who tarnish a law-abiding public" and pledging to act against violent settlers, whom he described as diverting troops from their mission.
Palestinians and human rights organizations say Israeli security forces and police have frequently failed to prevent or sufficiently deter settler attacks. Critics point to the presence of far-right figures in Israel’s government — including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who shapes settlement policy, and Cabinet Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has oversight responsibilities related to policing — as factors complicating efforts to rein in settler violence.
The mosque arson in Deir Istiya has heightened concerns among local communities and international observers about a widening cycle of violence in the West Bank and the potential for further escalation.
