Israeli occupation forces and illegal Israeli Jewish settlers intensified attacks across the occupied West Bank, burning mosques, assaulting Palestinians, and tightening movement restrictions.
Key Takeaways
- Illegal Israeli Jewish settlers set fire to two mosques and attacked Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.
- Israeli occupation forces launched raids, arrests, and imposed sweeping movement restrictions across multiple governorates.
- The escalation follows Israel’s announcement of a large-scale military operation and plans to expand illegal settlements.
Illegal Settlers Burn Two Mosques
Illegal Israeli Jewish settlers set fire to two mosques in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank on Sunday as Israeli military raids and restrictions intensified across the territory.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, settlers stormed the village of Kur, south of Tulkarm, set fire to a mosque, and spray-painted racist graffiti on its walls before fleeing. Local residents managed to extinguish the blaze before it spread further.
Hours earlier, illegal settlers also set fire to Al-Rahma Mosque, which was under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said the attack destroyed construction materials and equipment at the site.
The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the attacks, stating that illegal Israeli Jewish settlers have targeted 45 mosques across the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2025 under the protection of the Israeli army.
💢 Israeli settlers set mosque ablaze in Qasra, south of Nablus
Israeli settlers have attacked the town of Qasra, in the northern occupied West Bank, setting fire to a mosque and spray-painting racist slogans on its walls. pic.twitter.com/k6DwBwL802
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) July 26, 2026
Raids, Arrests across the West Bank
Israeli occupation forces carried out raids in several West Bank governorates, including Arrabuna near Jenin, Aqbat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho, and the towns of Qaffin, Bal’a, Iktaba, and Arta in Tulkarm.
According to Al Mayadeen, Israeli occupation forces conducted a large-scale arrest campaign, particularly targeting Palestinians who had previously been released from Israeli prisons.
In Nablus, Israeli occupation forces raided the home of Farouq Ramadan, who carried out a shooting attack near the village of Tell two days earlier, while an ambulance belonging to the Beita Emergency Center was detained at the Awarta checkpoint south of the city.
Movement Restrictions Tighten
Al Mayadeen reported that Israeli occupation forces closed most entrances to towns and villages across the occupied West Bank using military checkpoints, severely restricting movement.
In Huwwara, south of Nablus, Israeli forces reportedly confiscated vehicle keys and prevented kidney dialysis patients from outside the governorate from reaching hospitals in the city.
The correspondent also reported a week-long fuel shortage across the West Bank, delays in salary payments for many Palestinians, and the closure of schools.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation authorities began establishing a new settlement outpost north of Ramallah.
Settler Violence Continues
Illegal Israeli Jewish settlers continued attacks on Palestinian communities elsewhere in the West Bank.
In Beit Furik, east of Nablus, settlers attempted to set fire to a Palestinian home before local residents confronted them.
South of Bethlehem, settlers stormed the Al-Qarn area west of Al-Maniya village, destroyed a water network, and attacked Palestinians attempting to repair it by throwing stun grenades.
Local Palestinian citizens inspect the scene after Israeli settler militias set a mosque on fire and spray-painted racist graffiti on its walls in the town of Qusra, southeast of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. pic.twitter.com/2aSewqAW30
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 26, 2026
The latest incidents come days after settlers, backed by Israeli occupation forces, attacked the town of Tell near Nablus, killing four Palestinians.
Israel Announces Wider Military Operation
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that they had ordered the army to launch a large-scale operation targeting villages in the occupied West Bank that they described as “sources of terrorism.”
The Israeli government also announced plans to legalize settlement outposts, establish new settlements, confiscate weapons from some Palestinian villages, and revoke work permits for residents.
According to Palestinian figures, Israeli occupation forces and illegal Israeli Jewish settlers have killed at least 1,182 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, while thousands have been injured and around 24,000 detained.
The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission has documented 3,488 settler attacks against Palestinians and their property during the first half of 2025 alone, including arson attacks, shootings, assaults on villages, land seizures, and the establishment of new settlement outposts.
(PC, Al Mayadeen, WAFA, AA)
