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Mosques set ablaze
Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank, with Palestinian officials saying the attacks also damaged cars and agricultural land as tensions flared after a clash near the village of Tal left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead.
“Israeli settlers have set fire to two mosques, as well as cars and agricultural land”
The BBC reported that the mayor of Qusra said settlers set fire to a mosque under construction and that Abdul Azim Wadi said settlers spray-painted graffiti including the word "revenge" on the walls of the mosque.
In the same period, Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardaoui said in a statement that "the arson of two mosques by settler militias in the Nablus and Tulkarem governorates is a systematic fascist crime that warrants accountability."
Al Jazeera said Israel is intensifying its crackdown on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank after an attack by Israeli settlers resulted in the deaths of six people, and author and activist Phyllis Bennis said the situation shows an ‘increase in direct war crimes’ with no accountability.
Reactions and investigations
The BBC said the Israeli military told Palestinians it sent troops to Qusra and that police would investigate and collect evidence after the mosque under construction was set on fire.
In response to the arson, Hamas called the attacks a systematic fascist crime and Mahmoud Mardaoui urged the Palestinian people to "mobilize in defense of their mosques and sanctities."
The BBC also reported that Israel Defense Forces carried out raids and arrested more than 130 individuals over the weekend in what it called a "counter-terrorism" operation, and that Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take "powerful action" after the incident in Tal.
France 24 reported that Palestinians buried four men killed during a clash with Israeli settlers, and it quoted Walid Zidan saying the army restricted who could attend and "only about 30 people were able to be there."
What comes next
The BBC said Netanyahu responded to the Tal incident by vowing to take "powerful action" that includes the possible demolition of the homes of two Palestinians allegedly involved, while also saying Israel would speed up the establishment and legalisation of farm outposts in the West Bank.
“vowing to take "powerful action"”
France 24 reported that Netanyahu announced on Friday he would allow the establishment of more settlements in the region and would accelerate "the legalisation of farm outposts and establishment of new ones" after the deaths of two Israelis.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the escalating terrorism by settlers and said in a statement by Ambassador Fuad Al-Majali that the kingdom "utterly rejects these condemned attacks" and called for holding perpetrators to account and stopping settler attacks.
The Palestinian Civil Society Network urged international action in Ramallah, calling for immediate and effective steps to stop the escalating assaults by Israeli settlers and to hold the occupying authorities accountable for "the ongoing crimes and violations against Palestinian citizens."
