Settlers burn two mosques in Ramallah under the protection of occupation forces

Groups of extremist settlers launched a destructive attack targeting places of worship in the Ramallah governorate, central occupied West Bank, early Wednesday morning. Local sources reported that settlers infiltrated the towns of Jaljulia and Mazari al-Nubani, where they set fire to two mosques and spray-painted racist and incitement slogans on their walls, in a move that reflects the escalating pace of settlement terrorism against Palestinian holy sites.

In the town of Jaljulia, residents rose up to confront the settlers who attempted to burn the 'Grand Mosque,' leading to clashes during which occupation forces intervened to secure the withdrawal of the attackers. The army forces heavily fired toxic and tear gas canisters at citizens, providing security cover for the settlers and preventing Palestinians from protecting their mosque. This was repeated in the town of Mazari al-Nubani, where the 'Al-Farouq' mosque suffered extensive material damage to its contents and basic facilities.

These attacks come amidst international and official reports warning of an explosion of the situation, as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented more than a thousand attacks carried out by settlers since the beginning of this year. These systematic attacks have led to the displacement of more than 2,200 Palestinians from their communities, amid international silence and field complicity by the occupation army, which provides protection to settlers during the commission of their crimes.

For its part, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission revealed shocking figures indicating that the occupation army and settlers carried out more than 1,600 attacks in just one month in various areas of the West Bank. Approximately 750,000 settlers currently reside in the West Bank, distributed among 141 settlements and 224 outposts. These outposts serve as launching pads for daily attacks targeting Palestinian property, holy sites, and lives.

The residents of Jaljulia confronted the settlers during their attempt to burn the Grand Mosque, which prompted the occupation forces to storm the area and provide protection for the attackers.