Two mosques in the Israeli-occupied West Bank were set on fire in the early hours of July 26, following a series of violent incidents that left four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead. Palestinian officials attributed the arson attacks to Israeli settlers, who also spray-painted Hebrew graffiti on the mosque walls, while Israeli authorities condemned the attacks and launched security operations across the region.

The mosques targeted were located in the villages of Qusra, near Nablus, and Kour, near Tulkarm. In Qusra, a newly completed mosque was torched and defaced with slogans such as “Jewish revenge” and references to one of the Israeli soldiers killed days earlier. In Kour, security footage showed individuals in civilian clothing detonating an explosion at the mosque entrance, although worshipers managed to extinguish the fire before it caused major damage.

The violence followed an incident on July 24 in the village of Tal (also referred to as Tell), southwest of Nablus, where a group of Israeli settlers—some reportedly armed—entered the village, prompting a confrontation with residents. Palestinian local authorities say the settlers provoked the clash, while the Israeli military reported that both sides exchanged gunfire. During the skirmish, one Palestinian reportedly seized a settler’s weapon and opened fire, killing 32-year-old Benayahu Mellet, a security guard from a nearby settlement. The fatalities also included another Israeli soldier and four Palestinians.

Following the incidents, Israeli security forces undertook a wide-scale operation across the West Bank. Troops and police closed roads, blocked access to hospitals, entered multiple villages to seize weapons, and made numerous arrests. Israeli officials stated that over 130 Palestinians were detained, including individuals described as weapons traffickers, Hamas operatives, and suspects planning imminent attacks. The military also revealed it had sealed the homes of two Palestinian militants believed responsible for killing the Israeli soldiers, signaling intent to carry out home demolitions—a policy Israel says deters attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing an upcoming election in October, ordered the reinforcement of security forces and declared readiness to target “terrorist nests” throughout the West Bank. His government’s hardline stance comes amid ongoing criticism from Palestinians and Israeli opposition figures, who accuse Netanyahu's administration of tolerating—or even encouraging—attacks by settlers against Palestinians. Some members of his coalition, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have called for the formal annexation of the West Bank.

Palestinian authorities condemned the mosque attacks as part of a broader pattern they described as “state-backed settler terrorism” and systematic assaults across the territory. Local villagers reported repeated incidents of livestock theft, arson, and vandalism attributed to settlers in recent months, with Palestinian residents expressing frustration at what they perceive as inadequate protection from Israeli security forces.

International voices also called for calm. Pope Leo XIV urged both sides to seek negotiated solutions and to avoid unilateral actions, particularly those threatening the status quo of holy sites important to all religious communities in the region.

The West Bank remains one of the most volatile areas within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with ongoing disputes over land, security, and governance. Palestinians seek the territory as the basis for a future independent state, while Israel cites historical and religious ties. The expanded presence of Israeli settlements, considered illegal under international law by most countries and the United Nations, continues to fuel tensions and spur cycles of violence.