Israeli settlers have ignited a mosque in Deir Istiya, a village in the central West Bank, in a disturbing act of violence that came immediately after several top Israeli military and political leaders publicly condemned recent settler attacks. The arson caused damage to one wall of the mosque, destroyed several copies of the Quran, and left hateful graffiti on the walls with messages like "We are not afraid," and "We will take revenge again," reflecting defiance amid growing tensions.

This attack notably targeted the Hajja Hamida Mosque near Salfit, occurring in the early hours before morning prayers. The assailants poured flammable liquid at the mosque’s entrance, sparking the fire, and desecrated the site by burning holy texts and spray-painting threatening slogans in Hebrew. Palestinian civil defense teams intervened quickly to limit further destruction; however, the psychological and communal impact remains severe.

The incident drew swift and broad condemnation. Palestinian authorities labeled the arson a heinous crime fueled by extremist settlers and held the Israeli government accountable for the escalation and the broader wave of settler violence, which they accuse of being tacitly supported by state policies aimed at displacing Palestinians. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments condemned the attack as a brutal manifestation of racist incitement against sacred sites.

Remarkably, the timing of this violent episode closely followed public denunciations by Israeli military leaders and the president. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described such actions as "shocking and serious," urging urgent measures to curb this dangerous trend. The Israeli army’s chief of staff and Central Command head also condemned these acts, highlighting the detrimental impact on security efforts and the region’s stability, calling the perpetrators a fringe group disrupting peace.

Despite these official rebukes, violence by settlers continues to rise. Recent weeks have seen multiple incidents of arson, vandalism, and physical attacks on Palestinian villages and agricultural lands in the West Bank, resulting in injuries and significant property damage. Human rights groups and Palestinians criticize Israeli authorities for insufficient enforcement to curb settler violence, especially as the current government includes far-right elements that openly support settlement expansion.

This mosque attack fits into a larger pattern of escalating tensions in the West Bank, underscored by a record number of settler attacks reported in October 2025 alone—the worst since monitoring began nearly two decades ago. The controversy surrounding Israeli settlement expansions, including the contentious E1 project near Jerusalem, only fuels fears about the future of territorial contiguity for a Palestinian state and the potential for greater conflict.

International reactions have included condemnations from neighboring Jordan and calls from the United Nations for accountability and de-escalation. The continuing violence threatens to destabilize an already fragile situation, complicating peace efforts and endangering civilians on both sides. The assault on the Hajja Hamida Mosque is thus both a symbolic and tangible blow, reflecting the deep fractures and volatility in the region. It underscores the urgent need for decisive and effective actions from all stakeholders to prevent further deterioration, protect places of worship, and foster an environment where coexistence—not violence—can prevail.