Israeli forces killed two suspected Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, as tensions escalated following an arson attack on a mosque allegedly carried out by Israeli settlers.
According to a statement from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), soldiers operating near the community of Karmei Zur “eliminated two terrorists who were on their way to carry out a terror attack.” No further details were provided on the operation or the identities of those killed.
Palestinian officials also declined to release information on the victims, but separately accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to the Hajja Hamida Mosque near the town of Deir Istiya, in the northern part of the West Bank.
In a statement, the Palestinian foreign ministry in Ramallah condemned the mosque attack as a “blatant violation of the sanctity of places of worship,” accusing settlers of acting “under the protection of the occupying government.”
Photographs from AFP showed burnt copies of the Quran and soot-stained walls inside the mosque, while graffiti was sprayed across one of the exterior walls.
UN, Israeli Officials Condemn Attack
The Israeli military said security forces were dispatched to the area after receiving reports and footage showing “suspects who set fire to a mosque and sprayed graffiti.” It added that no arrests had yet been made and that the case had been handed over to the police and security agency.
“The IDF condemns any form of violence and will continue to operate to safeguard security and order in the area,” the statement read.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the arson attack, describing it as part of a “disturbing pattern of extremist violence that is inflaming tensions and must stop immediately,” according to his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
Israel Returns 15 Palestinian Bodies To Gaza
The attack came just a day after Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir pledged to curb settler violence, calling such incidents “a red line” that distracts troops from their duties.
Violence Deepens Across West Bank
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, with more than 500,000 Israelis now living in settlements considered illegal under international law. While only a minority of settlers engage in violence, Palestinians say Israeli authorities rarely prosecute offenders.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently reported that October 2025 marked the worst month for settler violence since records began in 2006, with at least 264 incidents causing deaths or property damage.
Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, at least 1,003 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers, according to Palestinian health officials. During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have died in Palestinian attacks in the territory, Israeli authorities said.
Discover more from RainSMediaRadio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
