Palestinian Officials Accuse Israeli Settlers of Setting Fire to Two West Bank Mosques
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, two mosques in separate West Bank villages were damaged in overnight fires that Palestinian officials attributed to Israeli settlers. The incidents occurred in Jiljiliya, north of Ramallah, and Mazari an-Nubani, amid a period of heightened settler violence against Palestinian communities since the 2023 Gaza war.
According to Osama Abdullah, head of the village council in Jiljiliya, a group of individuals attempted to enter the main mosque between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Finding the door locked, they set fire to a lower-floor room used for ablutions. The blaze caused damage to that room, and smoke and soot blackened the mosque’s ceiling, walls, and floors. Graffiti was spray-painted on the outer walls, with messages in Hebrew that read “vengeance” and “Hi, from the Hilltop Youth.” The Hilltop Youth is a loosely organized group of Israelis in the West Bank known for advocating settlement expansion and has been frequently accused of violent acts against Palestinians. Palestinian civil defence crews, along with residents from the village and neighbouring areas, extinguished the fire.
In the nearby village of Mazari an-Nubani, Saad Dagher, head of the village council, reported that around 3 a.m., attackers threw Molotov cocktails at one of the village’s three mosques. Residents managed to put out the fire before it caused extensive damage, and the suspects fled the scene.
Israel’s military confirmed that its forces located two burnt mosques with graffiti on the walls during searches but stated that the suspects had fled before their arrival. The military did not identify the perpetrators. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the attacks, describing them as “dangerous aggressions,” and called for international intervention to protect holy sites and communities.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of increased violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, rights groups have documented a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian property and individuals. The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly condemned settlement expansion and settler violence, viewing the settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this interpretation. The Hilltop Youth, mentioned in the graffiti, operates in some of the most contentious areas of the West Bank, often establishing outposts without official authorisation and clashing with local Palestinian residents.
The overnight arson attacks highlight the ongoing tensions and fragility in the region. Palestinian officials urged a robust response to prevent further escalation, while Israeli authorities stated they would investigate the incidents. No arrests have been announced.
