Israeli Settler Arson Targets West Bank Mosque

Deir Istiya, West Bank – In a shocking escalation of settler violence, Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to the Hajja Hamida Mosque in the Palestinian village of Deir Istiya, near Salfit, on the morning of Thursday, November 13, 2025. Local residents told Al Jazeera the blaze caused significant damage, with copies of the Quran burned and racist, anti-Palestinian slogans spray-painted on the mosque walls.

The incident has drawn international condemnation as tensions in the West Bank remain high, with a surge in attacks against Palestinians linked to settlement expansion and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

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Palestinian Authorities Condemn the Attack

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs described the attack as a “heinous crime,” underscoring what it called “the barbarity with which Israel treats Muslim and Christian holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Tragically, the same day saw two Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces during a raid in Beit Ummar, near Hebron, highlighting a broader pattern of violence in the region.

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Surge in Settler Violence

The arson attack comes amid a record surge in settler assaults in the West Bank. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 167 settler attacks related to the 2025 olive harvest have been reported since October 1, resulting in over 150 Palestinian injuries and damage to more than 5,700 olive trees.

Experts note that these attacks have intensified in the shadow of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has claimed over 69,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza since October 2023.

Human rights organizations warn that Israeli actions in the West Bank reflect de facto annexation and apartheid policies, with some attacks carried out with the acquiescence or participation of Israeli security forces.

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Global Reactions

Thursday’s attack prompted immediate condemnation from international actors:

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson called the attack “completely unacceptable” and urged Israel to hold perpetrators accountable.
• Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the violence as an extension of extremist policies that fuel attacks against Palestinians.
• Germany and Switzerland also demanded thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible.

Palestinian authorities have called on the international community to take concrete action, including suspending arms transfers to Israel, to curb the escalating violence.

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Continued Threats to Palestinian Communities

The mosque attack is part of a wider pattern of aggression by settlers across the West Bank. Last week, settlers reportedly set fire to a Palestinian home in Khirbet Abu Falah, near Ramallah, while a family was inside. Emergency teams managed to extinguish the fire, but the mother sustained a leg fracture during the evacuation.

Civilian communities in the West Bank continue to face systematic threats to their safety, property, and livelihoods, particularly during sensitive periods such as the olive harvest.