On October 3, 2023, Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the village of Mikhmas in the West Bank and wrote graffiti on its walls. This incident occurred as Palestinian sources and the Israeli army reported its occurrence.
Details of the Incident and Reactions
Ata Kanaan, a Palestinian resident of Mikhmas living 50 meters from the mosque, reported that he heard the sound of breaking glass immediately after midnight and went to the scene. He stated: "The fire was burning fiercely, and we called the fire department. Young people joined us with fire extinguishers, and we managed to put out parts of the fire before the flames engulfed the entire mosque."
Investigations and Inquiries
The Israeli army announced that military forces were dispatched to the scene as soon as reports of the fire and graffiti at the mosque were received. Additionally, the agency noted that no suspects have been identified and investigations are ongoing. Released videos show that the fire severely damaged the mosque's interior carpets and blackened the walls.
Kanaan added: "The settlers also set a car on fire, and in recent weeks, the village residents have formed night patrols to prevent further attacks, especially in the outskirts of the village."
Increase in Settler Violence
The village of Mikhmas is located in the West Bank and is surrounded by several settlement outposts whose residents have attacked the local community in recent months. Ruhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council, strongly condemned this act of arson, describing it as "barbaric and a dangerous escalation of settler terrorism."
In recent months, settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has significantly increased. These attacks include beatings, land and agricultural product theft, and the destruction of religious sites, homes, and other buildings. Currently, about three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, alongside over 500,000 Israelis living in illegal settlements.
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