ISRAELI OCCUPIED WEST BANK, 23 Feb. - (ANA) - Israeli settlers set fire to a West Bank mosque southwest of Nablus early Monday, in the latest attack on Palestinians in the occupied territory, with local worshippers managing to put out the blaze before it completely engulfed the place of worship.

 

Dozens of Muslim worshippers heading for Qiyam prayers at around 3:30am noticed smoke and flames at the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque, located between the villages of Tal and Sura, and rushed to put out the blaze, activist Mohammed Turabi told The New Arab's sister outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

 

The fire damaged the mosque’s entrance and spread to parts of the interior, but quick intervention from the locals prevented the flames from spreading further, amid a spate of attacks on mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank.

 

There was little question about the culprits of the attack, with the mosque's outer wall covered with Hebrew-language graffiti, including the words "revenge" and "price tag", and calls for the death and displacement of Arabs.

 

The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attempted arson attack by "settler gangs" on the mosque, but said it was relieved the attempt ultimately failed.

 

"These gangs carry out daily attacks on Islamic holy sites and on citizens’ property, and we are observing a systematic increase in the pace and nature of these violations," the ministry said in a statement.

 

Settler gangs, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, targeted 45 mosques last year.

 

This latest arson attempt reflects a level of "barbarism" amid Israeli attacks on Muslim and Christian holy sites in the occupied Palestinian Territory, the ministry said, which constitutes a "blatant assault on Muslims and their feelings", the ministry added.

 

Palestinian officials warned that the repeated Israeli attacks on places of worship - including arson, closures and preventing the call to prayer - also violate international laws and conventions guaranteeing freedom of worship.

 

On 11 February, settlers carried out a violent attack on a mosque in the village of al-Minya, east of Bethlehem, storming the building, burning copies of the Quran, stealing items, and vandalising property, which coincides with renewed efforts by Israeli forces and settlers to displace Palestinian residents and annex Palestinian land.

 

Elsewhere in the West Bank, Hassan Mleihat, general supervisor of the Al-Baydar human rights organisation, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli bulldozers are continuing land-levelling works in the Um al-Kabish area near Tamoun, south of Tubas, in preparation for establishing a new settlement outpost, which are illegal under international law.

 

Israeli forces arrested several Palestinians in the village of Bardala after settlers attacked them at their sheep pens, before the army detained the victims, and livestock were driven from grazing areas in Khirbet Samra, northern Jordan Valley.

 

On Monday, a large Israeli army force raided the town of Yaabad, southwest of Jenin, arresting at least one young man and storming a wedding hall, while amid the assault, the town's schools were closed for the day.

 

Local sources reported several Palestinians suffering from tear gas inhalation during a raid on the town of Idhna, west of Hebron, the previous night. A young man was also injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head during a raid on the Sateh Marhaba neighbourhood in al-Bireh, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

 

On Sunday, Israeli forces issued a demolition order for a house in al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, citing a lack of a permit, and forced shop owners in Huwara, south of Nablus, to close their businesses until further notice without explanation.

 

Israeli forces also raided Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem, obstructing worshippers from leaving the mosque after Isha and Tarawih prayers, and entered Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, firing tear gas and sound bombs without reported injuries.

 

In Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, local sources said settlers stormed a residence in Khirbet al-Halawa, vandalised solar panels, assaulted residents and damaged stone fencing in the area.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/23 February 2026 - - -