Israeli forces said they killed two suspected militants near Karmei Zur in the occupied West Bank, while Palestinian officials accused settlers of torching the Hajja Hamida mosque near Deir Istiya. AFP photos showed charred copies of the Koran, smoke-blackened walls and graffiti at the mosque. Israel's army chief condemned settler violence and vowed decisive action, as UN OCHA reported October 2025 was the worst month for such attacks since 2006. Since October 2023 both sides have suffered rising casualties amid the broader Gaza war.
Two Suspected Militants Killed Near Karmei Zur as Settlers Accused of Burning Mosque in Deir Istiya
Israeli forces said they killed two suspected militants near Karmei Zur in the occupied West Bank, while Palestinian officials accused settlers of torching the Hajja Hamida mosque near Deir Istiya. AFP photos showed charred copies of the Koran, smoke-blackened walls and graffiti at the mosque. Israel's army chief condemned settler violence and vowed decisive action, as UN OCHA reported October 2025 was the worst month for such attacks since 2006. Since October 2023 both sides have suffered rising casualties amid the broader Gaza war.
11:00 PM, 11/13/2025Conflict
Clash in the West Bank and Mosque Arson Reported
The Israeli military said its troops shot dead two suspected militants near the community of Karmei Zur in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The military gave a brief statement saying: "A short while ago, IDF soldiers who were operating adjacent to the community of Karmei Zur, eliminated two terrorists who were on their way to carry out a terror attack," but it provided no further operational details.
Palestinian officials likewise offered few details about the incident.
Mosque Set Ablaze, Authorities Say
Separately, the Ramallah-based Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to the Hajja Hamida mosque near Deir Istiya in the northern West Bank. The ministry condemned the act, saying it "blatantly violates the sanctity of places of worship and reflects the deep-rooted racism driving settlers under the protection of the occupying government." AFP photographs from the scene showed charred copies of the Koran, smoke-blackened walls and graffiti on a mosque wall.
"These acts contradict our values, cross a red line and divert the attention of our troops from their mission," said Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Israel's army chief, who vowed decisive action to stop settler violence.
Settler attacks across the West Bank have increased in recent weeks and prompted unusually frank criticism from within Israel's military and government. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements there — all of which are considered illegal under international law.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said October 2025 was the worst month for settler violence since records began in 2006, documenting at least 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage. The UN agency added that almost none of the suspected perpetrators have been held to account by Israeli authorities.
Violence in the West Bank has risen since the Gaza war began in October 2023. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 1,003 Palestinians — including militants — have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started. Israeli official figures report 43 Israelis, including soldiers, killed in Palestinian attacks in the same period.
The situation remains tense, with both sides trading accusations and calls for accountability from international bodies and local officials. Verification and independent investigations into specific incidents, including the mosque arson and the killings near Karmei Zur, have been sought by Palestinian authorities and international observers.