West Bank Mosque Reopens After Suspected Settler Attack

In a powerful display of resilience, Palestinians in the West Bank village of Deir Istiya gathered for Friday prayers after swiftly cleaning up their mosque, which had been vandalized.

The Attack

• When: Wednesday night
• Damage:
• Broken glass
• Offensive graffiti
• Burn marks
• A burnt Koran
• Suspected perpetrators: Jewish settlers

By Thursday, the mosque was in shambles. However, the community worked tirelessly to clean and repair the damage, determined to hold their regular Friday prayers there.

Response from Authorities

• Israel's military responded to reports of the attack.
• No suspects have been identified or arrested.
• Statement: Condemned the violence and promised to maintain security.

Rising Settler Attacks

• October 2023: 264 attacks recorded by the United Nations.
• This is the highest monthly total since tracking began in 2006.

The West Bank Context

• Population: 2.7 million Palestinians.
• Key to Palestinian hopes for a future independent state.
• Israeli settlements are expanding, complicating these aspirations.
• Over 500,000 Israelis now live in these settlements.

Community Resilience

Palestinians argue that Israeli forces do not do enough to protect them from settler violence. The Israeli military claims they deploy soldiers to address such incidents.

During Friday prayers, worshippers demonstrated their strength, sending a message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies. The mosque was repaired in just 24 hours, with plans to replace the carpets soon.