What happened
Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have set fire to two mosques, vehicles and farmland, Palestinian officials reported, as tensions escalate following deadly clashes. The attacks occurred overnight in the villages of Qusra and Kour, with settlers also spray-painting hate graffiti, including the word 'revenge' on a mosque wall, according to local authorities.
Why it matters for the market
The violence comes two days after a confrontation near the village of Tal left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead, with each side blaming the other for provocation. Since then, multiple settler attacks have been reported across the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources.
In Qusra, the mayor said settlers torched a mosque under construction. In Kour, another mosque was set ablaze and slogans sprayed. The Israeli military stated it sent troops to Qusra and that police would investigate.
Residents recounted the attacks with distress. Hanan Turabi, whose home was among six torched in Sarra, told the BBC she fled with her children as settlers approached. Her brother Kaied Ahmad Turabi, visiting from Miami, was hospitalized after being beaten by masked settlers armed with sticks.
Israel's military said it is working to prevent 'nationalist crime' by settlers, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed powerful action, including potential demolition of homes of alleged Palestinian attackers. He also pledged to accelerate legalization of settlement outposts, some of which have already appeared since Friday's clash.
What traders should watch
Settler violence in the West Bank has surged since the Gaza war began, with the UN reporting over 1,100 Palestinians killed in the territory since October 7, 2023, including at least 35 by settlers. Israel's settlements, home to 700,000 Jews, are considered illegal under international law, with 3.3 million Palestinians living alongside them.
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