Settler escalation in Ramallah: Attempt to burn a mosque and widespread attacks on properties

The Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate witnessed a new wave of settler attacks on Sunday evening, targeting several villages and towns, resulting in extensive material damage to citizens' properties. Field sources reported that the attacks focused on areas east and northwest of the governorate, where a state of extreme tension prevailed following attempts to target places of worship and residential homes.

In the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, groups of settlers stormed the area and began smashing the doors of Al-Nour Mosque, and set fire to its entrance in a clear attempt to burn it completely. The villagers managed to confront the attackers and extinguish the fire before it spread inside the mosque, while the attack also resulted in the burning of a vehicle parked at the scene.

Concurrently, the town of Deir Dibwan was subjected to a similar attack targeting the Al-Marah area near the western entrance, where settlers set fire to two vehicles and smashed the windows of two other vehicles. These attacks come in an escalating context aimed at intimidating local residents and destroying the elements of their steadfastness in areas near settlements and outposts.

In the village of Deir Abu Mash'al, Palestinian farmers were subjected to intense stone-throwing while heading to their agricultural lands in the southern part of the village, leading to clashes with settlers. Occupation forces intervened after the attack to secure the withdrawal of the settlers, with no injuries or arrests reported among the citizens who tried to protect their lands.

On the military front, occupation vehicles stormed the towns of Silwad and Yabroud, east of Ramallah, and carried out provocative patrols in the streets and residential neighborhoods without recording any arrests. The incursions also extended to include the town of Beita, south of Nablus, and the vicinity of Raboud village in Dura city, south of Hebron, as part of a widespread tightening campaign witnessed in the West Bank governorates.

In Nablus Governorate, educational sources at Jaloud School documented settlers burning classrooms and writing racist incitement slogans on the school walls. This systematic incident reflects the targeting of Palestinian educational institutions, which is consistent with international reports indicating a record increase in the pace of violence perpetrated by settler groups against civilians.

Data issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that settler attacks are now recording an average of 6 attacks per day, resulting in widespread injuries and material damage. Reports confirm that these attacks, coupled with access restrictions and home demolitions, have led to the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians from their lands during the current year.

Settlers attempted to burn Al-Nour Mosque in Burqa village after smashing its doors and setting fire to its entrance before the intervention of the residents.