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“I was shocked when I opened the door," said Munir Ramdan, who
lives nearby. "The fire had been burning here in the area, the
glass was broken here and the door was broken.”
Security camera footage showed two people walking toward the
mosque carrying gasoline and a can of spray paint, and running
away a few minutes later, Ramdan said.
The attackers spray-painted graffiti denigrating the Prophet
Muhammad, as well as the words “revenge” and “price tag.” In
“price tag” attacks, hard-line Israeli nationalists attack
Palestinians and vandalize their property in response to
Palestinian militant attacks or perceived efforts by Israeli
authorities to limit settlement activity.
The ministry said settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques in
the West Bank last year.
The latest incident occurred as Muslims observe the holy month
of Ramadan.
“The provocation is directed especially at the person who is
fasting, because you are fasting and entering a month of mercy
and forgiveness from God,” said Salem Ishtayeh, a resident of
Tell. “So they like to provoke you with words. It’s not that
they are attacking you personally, they are attacking your
religion, the Islamic faith.”
The Israeli military and police said they responded to the
incident and were searching for suspects. The military said it
“strongly condemns” harm done to religious institutions.
Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli authorities routinely
fail to prosecute settlers or hold them accountable for
violence.
There has been a recent surge in violence by settlers against
Palestinians in the West Bank. Last week, settlers killed a
Palestinian-American man, Nasrallah Abu Siyam.
According to information released by Israel's military last
month, there were 867 attacks by settlers against Palestinians
and security forces in 2025, an increase of 27% over 2024.
The number of serious settler attacks including shootings, arson
and other violent crimes has increased sharply each year since
far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spent his law career
defending Jews who attacked Palestinians, became national
security minister. The number of serious attacks increased from
54 in 2023 to 83 in 2024 and 128 in 2025.
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Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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