Settlers try to torch a mosque in West Bank

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to the Nur Al-Din Zanki Mosque near Nablus in the northern West Bank early Tuesday, causing minor damage and leaving threatening messages on the walls. The attack highlights growing religious and territorial tensions in the region, as Palestinian officials warn such incidents risk igniting wider conflict amid increased settler violence.

A mosque in the northern West Bank was targeted in an attempted arson attack early Tuesday morning, Palestinian officials reported. The incident took place at the Nur Al-Din Zanki Mosque in Bazzaryah, near Nablus, where a group of Israeli settlers reportedly tried to set parts of the mosque on fire.

According to local residents, the attack occurred around 2:45 a.m. A small explosion ignited a fire inside the mosque before it was quickly contained to prevent further damage to the main structure. Blackened burn marks were visible around a window of the mosque, and threatening messages in Hebrew were found scrawled on the exterior walls.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs described the incident as a "criminal attack," noting that 13 mosques have been damaged or "violated" by either Israeli military forces or settlers so far this year. The Palestinian presidency expressed concern over what it described as escalating religious hostilities, citing ongoing attacks on religious sites including the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The presidency warned that these actions have the potential to provoke a broader religious conflict with serious regional and international consequences.

Israeli police stated they had arrested eight individuals between the ages of 16 and 20 on the same day, accusing them of involvement in arson attacks and assaults in southern Hebron, located in the southern West Bank. However, Israeli authorities had not immediately commented on the specific mosque incident.

The rising number of attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has been a persistent issue. Over 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements that the international community considers illegal under international law, amid an estimated three million Palestinians residing in the area. Violence linked to settlers has increased in recent months, often occurring with limited legal repercussions.

This event adds to long-standing tensions surrounding religious and territorial disputes in the West Bank, with both sides warning of the risks associated with escalating violence in a deeply contested and sensitive region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.