The United Arab Emirates has issued a strong condemnation of recent attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank, including the torching of a mosque in the city of Tulkarm. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a provocative act of extremism and incitement against Muslims.
In an official statement, the Ministry called on the Israeli government to take full responsibility for preventing such assaults, urging it to condemn the violence and hold the perpetrators accountable. The statement warned that failure to act would be perceived as tacit approval, potentially escalating cycles of hatred, racism, and instability in the region.
The UAE also appealed to the international community to address what it described as ongoing Israeli violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and stressed the importance of supporting efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. The ministry highlighted the need for a comprehensive and just resolution that preserves the two-state solution and ends illegal practices undermining peace.
Separately, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued urgent appeals to global leaders and international organizations, including the European Union, the Arab League, and the UN Security Council, to intervene amid what he described as a "dangerous escalation" of Israeli military operations and settler violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In letters sent on Sunday and made public earlier this week, Abbas accused Israeli forces and armed settler groups of committing attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties, destruction of homes, religious sites, agricultural land, and other property. He asserted these actions occur with the backing of the Israeli military and government.
The tensions have led to deadly clashes in the West Bank, where six people have died this week. Palestinian officials reported that Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques overnight Sunday. Abdel Azim Wadi, mayor of Qusra, a town south of Nablus, told news agencies that settlers torched a mosque still under construction, causing damage to its entrance and stonework. The attackers also spray-painted Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” on the walls of the mosque.
The wave of violence underscores the rising tensions in the occupied territories amid stalled peace efforts and ongoing settlement activity, contributing to fears of further instability in the region.