Israeli settlers reportedly torched a mosque in the West Bank village of Jiljilya, with local residents describing explosions and smoke rising from the site. The ablution area was damaged by burning tires, and Hebrew graffiti, including the word 'revenge' and references to detainees, was found on the mosque's exterior. The mosque is located in Area A of the occupied West Bank, which is under Palestinian Authority administration. This attack is part of a broader pattern of vandalism against religious sites in the region, according to Palestinian officials.
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Residents said they heard explosions shortly after 2 a.m. before seeing smoke rise from the mosque. According to local imam Mohammad Khasib, 15 to 20 tyres were set on fire inside the ablution area, causing extensive damage to the building. Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge” and references to detainees, was sprayed on the exterior walls. The mosque is located in Area A of the occupied West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority and is generally off-limits to Israeli civilians.
The incident was one of two reported attacks on mosques overnight in villages north of Ramallah. Palestinian officials said dozens of mosques and churches across the occupied West Bank have been vandalised or damaged since the start of 2026, amid a wider rise in violence linked to Israeli settlers. Inside the mosque in Jiljilya, walls and doors were blackened by soot, while intense heat cracked and damaged the floor tiles.
Local residents returned to the site on Wednesday morning to clear debris and clean the damaged areas. 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.
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Israeli settlers reportedly torched a mosque in the West Bank village of Jiljilya, with local residents describing explosions and smoke rising from the site. The ablution area was damaged by burning tires, and Hebrew graffiti, including the word 'revenge' and references to detainees, was found on the mosque's exterior. The mosque is located in Area A of the occupied West Bank, which is under Palestinian Authority administration. This attack is part of a broader pattern of vandalism against religious sites in the region, according to Palestinian officials.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details about an event without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on the incident as described by local residents and officials, without taking a stance on the political implications or assigning blame.
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