ISRAELI SETTLERS SET FIRE TO MOSQUE IN WEST BANK VILLAGE

Residents of Jiljilya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, discovered their mosque ablaze on 17 June after an overnight attack. Explosions were heard shortly after 2 a.m., followed by smoke rising from the building. Local imam Mohammad Khasib reported that 15 to 20 tyres had been set on fire inside the ablution area, causing extensive damage throughout the structure. Hebrew graffiti reading "revenge" and references to detainees were sprayed on the exterior walls. The incident represented one of two reported attacks on mosques that night in villages north of Ramallah.

The mosque occupies Area A of the occupied West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority and is generally off-limits to Israeli civilians. Walls and doors inside the building were blackened by soot, whilst intense heat cracked and damaged floor tiles. Residents returned on Wednesday morning to clear debris and clean the damaged areas. Palestinian officials reported that dozens of mosques and churches across the occupied West Bank have been vandalised or damaged since the start of 2026, alongside a wider rise in violence linked to Israeli settlers. At the time of reporting, Israeli police and military authorities had not publicly commented on the incident.

Palestinian leaders called for stronger protection of religious sites and accountability for those responsible. The attack occurred in an area where Israeli civilians are prohibited from entering under existing agreements. The incident forms part of an escalating pattern of damage to Palestinian religious structures across the region.