Israeli Settlers Set Mosque on Fire in Northern West Bank

20 Dec 2024

Early on Friday morning, Israeli settlers set the Bir Al-Walidayn Mosque on fire in the village of Marda, located near Salfit in the northern West Bank. Racist graffiti, including the phrase “Death to Arabs,” was scrawled across the mosque’s walls.

According to eyewitness accounts, the settlers broke into the mosque by smashing one of its gates and poured flammable materials inside before igniting the fire. The flames caused significant damage to the mosque’s interior before local residents managed to extinguish them. The incident occurred amidst a heavy Israeli military presence, with the village under tight restrictions and frequent closures since 7 October 2023.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the arson attack, describing it as a “barbaric crime” and part of an escalating campaign targeting places of worship in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Ministry urged international organisations and human rights groups to hold the perpetrators accountable and to take immediate action to protect Palestinian holy sites from further attacks.

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Residents of Marda voiced their anger and fear over the incident, calling it a dangerous escalation enabled by the protection and incitement provided to settlers by the Israeli government. They noted that the village has experienced frequent settler harassment and violence, facilitated by the military’s control of its entrances and exits.

This attack on the mosque comes amid a broader wave of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, which has intensified alongside the ongoing war in Gaza. Palestinian officials report that since October, over 800 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers. Residents of Marda see the mosque arson as a direct threat to their community and a warning of more violence to come.
 

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