Settlers accused of burning, vandalizing West Bank mosque in overnight attack

A mosque in the West Bank village of Tuwani, in the South Hebron Hills, was reportedly attacked and set on fire overnight by a group of settlers. Palestinian witnesses stated that masked settlers torched the Al-Taqwa mosque, two houses, and a dairy factory, also spray-painting graffiti including a Star of David and “Havat Gilad” on the mosque walls. The head of the village council, Mohammed Rabie, said villagers extinguished the flames, and he thanked God that “this attack did not turn into a tragedy with loss of life.” Israeli police have opened an investigation into the incident, collecting evidence and noting damage to a “house of prayer” and a car, but did not directly confirm arson suspicions. The Palestinian religious affairs ministry condemned the act as “a full-fledged terrorist act.” This incident occurs amid a surge in West Bank violence since October 2023.