Illegal Israeli Settlers Torch Mosque Near Jericho Amid Rising Violence in West Bank

A mosque northwest of Jericho was set ablaze by illegal Israeli settlers on Sunday, marking yet another attack on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, according to a local activist.

Hasan Mleihat, from the Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, reported that settlers also attempted to torch a tractor belonging to the Mleihat Bedouin community. “The mosque was completely burned down, but residents managed to stop the fire from spreading to the tractor,” Mleihat said.

The attack is part of an escalating wave of violence carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their properties. According to Palestinian sources, more than 2,970 such attacks have been recorded in 2024 alone. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians and the destruction of over 14,000 olive trees— a vital source of livelihood for many Palestinian families.

Settler Expansion and Escalating Violence

Nearly 770,000 Israeli settlers currently reside in 180 settlements and 256 outposts scattered across the occupied West Bank. These settlements, deemed illegal under international law, continue to expand despite global condemnation.

Since the outbreak of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, violence in the West Bank has surged. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that at least 900 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 6,700 others injured by Israeli army fire in the region.

The attack on the mosque comes amid increasing calls for accountability over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land is illegal and demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Despite the ruling, settler violence and Israeli military operations in Palestinian territories have intensified, raising concerns among international human rights organizations and diplomatic bodies.

Growing Calls for Action

Palestinian officials and rights groups have condemned the latest attack, calling on the international community to intervene and hold Israel accountable for ongoing settler violence.

The mosque’s destruction adds to the growing list of assaults on Palestinian religious sites, homes, and agricultural lands. Analysts warn that without concrete action, these attacks will continue to escalate, further deepening tensions in the already volatile region.

As violence persists, Palestinian communities remain vulnerable to repeated settler attacks, with little protection or recourse under the current conditions in the occupied West Bank.