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 said, emphasizing the violation of sacred spaces. Assertively scrawled on the mosque's wall was a message for Israel's regional military chief: We're not afraid of you, Avi Bluth.
The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs has reported an alarming increase in settler attacks, noting that October alone saw over 260 incidents, marking a new record since monitoring began in 2006. Human rights organizations highlight that since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, approximately 3,200 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced due to these aggressive incidents.
Despite stern statements from military leaders condemning the violence, some settlers feel that government support fuels their actions. The Israeli army faces an intricate challenge of managing within ranks where settlers increasingly comprise a large body of soldiers.
As tensions mount, many fear the situation may lead to dire confrontations, with local voices expressing the urgent need for attention to the plight of Palestinians. We are not in a fight with the Israelis. They’re pushing us into a corner,” remarked Wadi abu Awad, a local civil engineer, suggesting the risk of an explosive retaliation if settlers continue their aggression.
The crisis is compounded by political tensions within Israel as the military grapples with its stance toward settler violence amid cries for accountability and a call to reinforce law enforcement measures against aggressors.
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 said, emphasizing the violation of sacred spaces. Assertively scrawled on the mosque's wall was a message for Israel's regional military chief: We're not afraid of you, Avi Bluth.
The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs has reported an alarming increase in settler attacks, noting that October alone saw over 260 incidents, marking a new record since monitoring began in 2006. Human rights organizations highlight that since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, approximately 3,200 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced due to these aggressive incidents.
Despite stern statements from military leaders condemning the violence, some settlers feel that government support fuels their actions. The Israeli army faces an intricate challenge of managing within ranks where settlers increasingly comprise a large body of soldiers.
As tensions mount, many fear the situation may lead to dire confrontations, with local voices expressing the urgent need for attention to the plight of Palestinians. We are not in a fight with the Israelis. They’re pushing us into a corner,” remarked Wadi abu Awad, a local civil engineer, suggesting the risk of an explosive retaliation if settlers continue their aggression.
The crisis is compounded by political tensions within Israel as the military grapples with its stance toward settler violence amid cries for accountability and a call to reinforce law enforcement measures against aggressors.
