Full Breakdown
Israeli Settlers Set Fire to West Bank Mosques Amid Surge in Settler Violence
6/18/2026, 11:42:40 AM
Arson Attacks on Mosques
On the night of June 14, Israeli settlers entered Jiljilya and Mazra’a al-Nubani, north of Ramallah, and ignited Great Mosque of Jiljilya and Al Faruq mosque with Molotov cocktails. Hebrew graffiti reading “Hi from the Hilltop Youth,” “Guys, wake up,” “Night of the mosques,” and “Revenge” was scrawled on walls. In Deir Dibwan, a settler sprayed incendiary liquid on a window of al-Marah mosque, trying to burn 92-year-old Yasser Saqer Rashid alive and setting six cars on fire. In Burqa, settlers broke mosque doors, set entrance and a nearby car ablaze while worshippers prayed; the congregation extinguished the blaze without injuries.
Escalating Violence & Data
The June attacks follow a surge in settler-driven violence after the October 2023 Gaza war. The UN records six attacks per day in the occupied West Bank. In May 2026, the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission logged 22 attacks on Muslim religious sites (14 in Hebron) and 1,659 attacks on Palestinians and property, 551 by settlers alone. Settler outposts have risen to at least 165 since October 2023, and the settler population now exceeds 750,000, up from 250,000 in the 1990s.
Official Statements, Responses, and Criticism
The Israeli military said forces were dispatched to disperse the riots, extinguish the fires, prevent further friction, and condemned the attacks. The Palestinian Authority’s Religious Affairs Ministry called the attacks dangerous aggressions and urged international intervention. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned settler attacks have reached historic levels. Amnesty International labeled the displacement of Palestinians a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing, rejecting the rogue settler excuse. Reporters Without Borders condemned the Israeli army for injuring a journalist with tear-gas.
On-the-Ground Reports
Villagers in Jiljilya said settlers arrived between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., found the mosque locked and set fire to ablution room. Yasser Saqer Rashid, 92, said a settler sprayed petrol on his face, declaring, “He wanted to burn me alive.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “He wanted to burn me alive,” — Yasser Saqer Rashid, Palestinian American.
- “We are steadfast here and will not leave,” — Adel Maatan, muezzin, Burqa.
- “It became a real prison,” — Sadeq Faqih, fabric merchant, Beit Imrin.
- “The security forces strongly condemn all acts of violence.” — Military spokesperson.
- “hi from the Hilltop Youth” — Graffiti on Jiljilya wall.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some reports say no injuries occurred in the Burqa mosque attack, others cite four Palestinians injured nearby. Attackers were not identified; the Israeli military gave no names, and attribution of the graffiti to the Hilltop Youth differs among sources.
What’s Next
The United Nations will hold a session on West Bank settler violence later this month and call for an independent probe of the June 14 arson attacks. Palestinian officials have urged the International Criminal Court to examine possible war crimes.
