Assault on Nablus-area mosque is newest in surge of Israeli settler and navy violence focusing on Palestinians.
Israeli settlers have defaced and set fireplace to a mosque within the occupied West Financial institution in the course of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, marking the newest incident in a wave of Israeli violence towards Palestinians within the territory.
The Wafa information company reported on Monday that settlers graffitied racist slogans on the partitions of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Mosque, positioned between the cities of Sarra and Tal, close to Nablus within the north of the West Financial institution.
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Worshippers arriving for the day’s first prayers discovered the injury and a smouldering fireplace that spewed black smoke throughout the mosque’s entrance and stained the ornate doorway, The Related Press reported.
“I used to be shocked after I opened the door,” Munir Ramdan, who lives close by, advised the information company. “The hearth had been burning right here within the space, the glass was damaged right here and the door was damaged.”
Ramdan advised AP that safety digicam footage confirmed two individuals strolling in the direction of the mosque carrying gasoline or petrol and a can of spray paint, and operating away a couple of minutes later.
The attackers spray-painted graffiti denigrating the Prophet Muhammad, in addition to the phrases “revenge” and “price ticket” – a time period used to explain assaults by Israeli settlers towards Palestinians and their property.
The assault comes amid a wave of intensified Israeli settler and navy violence throughout the West Financial institution within the shadow of Israel’s genocidal warfare towards Palestinians within the close by Gaza Strip.
Not less than 1,094 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers within the West Financial institution because the Gaza warfare started in October 2023, in response to the newest United Nations figures.
Final week, the UN Human Rights Council warned in a brand new report (PDF) that Israeli insurance policies within the West Financial institution – together with “the systematic illegal use of power by Israeli safety forces” and illegal demolitions of Palestinian houses – goal to uproot Palestinian communities.
“These violations, along with pervasive and rising settler violence dedicated with impunity, are basic to the coercive atmosphere that induces compelled displacement and forcible switch, which is a warfare crime,” the report mentioned.
It added that these insurance policies are geared toward “altering the character, standing and demographic composition of the occupied West Financial institution, elevating critical considerations of ethnic cleaning”.
Again within the West Financial institution village of Tal on Monday, resident Salem Ishtayeh advised AP that the Israeli settlers’ assault on the native mosque was “directed particularly” at Palestinians who’re fasting throughout Ramadan.
“So that they like to impress you with phrases. It’s not that they’re attacking you personally, they’re attacking your faith, the Islamic religion,” Ishtayeh mentioned.
In response to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Spiritual Affairs, settlers vandalised or attacked 45 mosques within the West Financial institution final yr.
The Israeli navy and police mentioned they responded to the newest incident and had been trying to find suspects.
However human rights teams say the Israeli authorities have allowed the settlers to function with complete impunity of their assaults towards Palestinians.
Israeli organisation B’Tselem has accused Israel of actively aiding the settlers’ violence “as a part of a method to cement the takeover of Palestinian land”.
The UN additionally warned final yr that settler assaults had been being carried out “with the acquiescence, assist, and in some circumstances participation, of Israeli safety forces”.
