{"id":2029,"date":"2026-07-27T04:13:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T04:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2029"},"modified":"2026-07-27T04:13:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T04:13:50","slug":"2-mosques-in-the-west-bank-are-set-on-fire-during-a-deadly-surge-in-settler-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2029","title":{"rendered":"2 mosques in the West Bank are set on fire during a deadly surge in settler violence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) \u2014 Two mosques in the Israeli-occupied West Bank were set on fire overnight in an apparent Israeli settler attack, officials said Sunday, after a spate of deadly violence that killed four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Read more Displaced from wildfires in Spain share their stories of uncertainty and narrow escapes<\/a><\/p>\n

Palestinians and the Israeli opposition accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s hard-line government of turning a blind eye to attacks by settlers against Palestinians,<\/span> which threaten to ignite widespread violence across the territory.<\/p>\n

Israeli soldiers and police fanned out across the West Bank after the attack, closing off major roads and blocking access to a hospital where it said two militants were hiding. Israel also arrested more than 70 Palestinians<\/span> over the weekend as they attempted to contain the escalating violence.<\/p>\n

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Israel\u2019s military says it condemns such incidents<\/h2>\n

The mosques, in the villages of Qusra and Kour in the northern West Bank, suffered extensive damage in the fires. <\/p>\n

In Qusra, the attackers spray-painted \u201crevenge Benayahu,\u201d referring to one of the Israeli soldiers killed on Friday, and \u201cthe land of Israel is redeemed with blood.\u201d The soldier lived in a nearby settlement.<\/p>\n

Ahmed Abu Mahmoud, 64, who lives next to the Qusra mosque, said he heard noises at 3 a.m. and discovered the mosque had been set on fire. The fire was too large for him to fight on his own, so he called for help.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe military arrived here, saw with their own eyes and then left,\u201d Mahmoud said.<\/p>\n

Security footage in Kour obtained by The Associated Press showed three people dressed in civilian clothes setting off a large explosion in the entrance of the mosque in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n

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On Sunday, residents held prayers despite damage to the entrance.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military said it was working with police to investigate the mosque attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe security forces strongly condemn incidents of this kind, including harm to religious sites, and will continue to act decisively to maintain security and public order in the area,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The Israeli army often announces investigations into violence against Palestinians but rarely makes arrests or prosecutes settlers involved in violence.<\/p>\n

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The military also reported it had sealed the homes of two Palestinian militants suspected of killing the soldiers in preparation for their demolition. Israel often demolishes the homes of attackers, claiming it deters future attacks.<\/p>\n

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