Settlers try to torch a mosque in West Bank

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to the Nur Al-Din Zanki Mosque near Nablus, causing minor damage and leaving threatening Hebrew graffiti on the walls. This attack is part of a series of 13 targeted assaults on religious sites this year, raising fears of escalating religious conflict amid rising tensions in the West Bank.

Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to the Nur Al-Din Zanki Mosque in Bazzaryah, near Nablus in the northern West Bank, during the early hours of Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The ministry described the incident as a "criminal attack" and said it caused burn marks around a window of a mosque room, while threatening messages in Hebrew were found painted on the mosque’s exterior walls.

Majed Nasi, a resident nearby, reported hearing a small explosion that ignited a fire inside the mosque building. Local residents managed to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the main upper section of the mosque.

The ministry also noted that this mosque was among 13 religious sites targeted by Israeli settlers or military personnel so far this year. The Palestinian presidency condemned the attack, warning of rising tensions and an escalating "religious war" targeting Islamic sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The presidency specifically criticized far-right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for leading provocative visits to Al-Aqsa, which is a significant religious site for Muslims where Jewish visitors are allowed but prohibited from praying.

Palestinian authorities expressed concern that these repeated incidents, described as "systematic attacks," could provoke a broader religious conflict with potential regional and international consequences.

The violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians has been ongoing for years, particularly within the West Bank, where more than 500,000 Israelis reside in settlements deemed illegal under international law. There has been a noted increase in settler attacks in recent months, often accompanied by limited legal accountability.

Separately, Israeli police announced the arrest of eight individuals aged between 16 and 20 in connection with arson attacks and assaults in southern Hebron, another flashpoint area in the southern West Bank. No direct link between these arrests and the mosque incident was disclosed.

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.