The marks of the attack on Hamida Mosque, near Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank, are still scattered on the ground outside. Charred furniture, lecterns, and smoky curls of carpet are piled around the entrance - its guts emptied, and debris cleared, in time for Friday prayers. Dozens of men arrived for the prayers in a show of defiance - their backs turned towards the scorched and blackened wall. The imam here, Ahmad Salman, told the BBC the attack on Thursday was a message from Jewish settlers, amid a wave of settler violence across the West Bank. 'The message they want to send is that they can reach anywhere - into cities, into villages, that they can kill civilians and burn houses and mosques.' He expressed deep sorrow, saying, 'It's not right to touch places of prayer, wherever they are.' Spiralling settler attacks here over the past six weeks have triggered tough warnings from army leaders, along with a handful of arrests and investigations. But hardline expansionist settlers enjoy government support, which some believe is pushing the West Bank towards a dangerous confrontation. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs registered more than 260 settler attacks resulting in Palestinian casualties or damage to property in October alone - the highest monthly count since monitoring began in 2006. The tensions have raised urgent calls for action from the Israeli military, as divisions within the army and suspicions of governmental complicity grow.
Settler Violence in West Bank Sparks Divisions in Israel
Settler Violence in West Bank Sparks Divisions in Israel
A surge in violent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians is igniting serious concerns and rifts within Israel, especially amidst ongoing military and political tensions. Humanitarian records reveal an alarming increase in violence, prompting urgent calls for action.
In recent weeks, escalating settler violence in the West Bank, marked by attacks on Palestinians, mosques, and farms, has caused unprecedented tension. Over 260 reported attacks in October alone indicate a record surge, prompting strong reactions from Israeli military leaders. Activists and local residents express fears of increased confrontations, as government support for hardline settlers continues to rise. Social dynamics within Israel are shifting, as internally, divisions regarding these acts of violence grow.
