Israeli forces and settlers attack two West Bank mosques
Israeli forces and settlers have attacked two mosques in the occupied West Bank on the same day, according to Palestinian officials and local accounts. One incident took place in Madama, near Nablus, where tear gas was fired into a mosque as worshippers gathered for evening prayers. Hours earlier, settlers were reported to have tried to set fire to the Nur al-Din Zanki Mosque in the nearby town of Bazariya.
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The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs said the Madama attack involved tear gas canisters being fired into the mosque, leaving people inside struggling to breathe. It said several elderly worshippers suffered suffocation and that the congregation was disrupted. Footage verified by the broadcaster showed worshippers coughing after the incident, with one elderly man seen bent over while another person tried to help him.
In Bazariya, photos and videos from the Nur al-Din Zanki Mosque showed blackened burn marks around a window and Hebrew phrases sprayed on the exterior walls. A local resident said there had been a small explosion that caused a fire inside the building, but that people managed to contain the blaze before it spread further. The ministry condemned what it called a criminal attack and said about 13 mosques had been violated by Israeli military forces or settlers since the start of 2026.
The incidents add to tensions in the occupied West Bank, where attacks on religious sites can deepen fears among Palestinian communities and raise the risk of further unrest. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned of the dangers of what it described as an escalating religious war against religious sites in the territory. The statement also referred to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, underlining the wider sensitivity of attacks on places of worship in the conflict.
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The two incidents are related but distinct, with one involving tear gas during prayers and the other an attempted arson at a different mosque. The reported timing suggests a coordinated or at least simultaneous period of violence affecting religious property in the same area. The available information does not say whether anyone has been detained or whether Israeli authorities have responded to the allegations.
It is also unclear what damage assessments have been made at either mosque beyond the visible burn marks and reported disruption. Further statements from Israeli officials, local authorities, or independent investigators would be needed to establish responsibility and determine whether the incidents are being treated as separate attacks or part of a broader pattern. For now, the main questions are whether there will be arrests, whether the sites will need repairs, and whether the situation in the area will worsen in the coming days.
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