Israeli settlers carry out arson attack on another mosque in the occupied West Bank

Yasmine Osama Farag , Monday 23 Feb 2026

Israeli settlers set fire on Monday to the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque, located between the towns of Sarta and Tell, near Nablus, while occupation forces carried on with a campaign of arresting hundreds of Palestinians since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

A man inspects the burnt entrance to the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on February 23, 2026 following an attack by Israeli settlers. AFP

Residents told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that the attackers poured flammable materials at the mosque’s entrance before setting it ablaze and spray-painting racist, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim graffiti on its walls.

In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments said the attempted arson “reflects escalating racist incitement against holy sites in Palestine.”

The ministry added that such gangs carry out daily attacks on Islamic holy sites and private property, noting that 45 mosques were attacked in 2025 under the protection of the occupation soldiers.

A man inspects offensive Hebrew graffiti on the walls outside the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Separately, WAFA reported that settlers cut down 21 olive trees at dawn on Monday in the village of al-Mughayyir near Ramallah.

According to the agency, settlers raided the Marj Si’ plain near the village and felled olive trees that were more than 50 years old before withdrawing.

A man inspects the burnt entrance to the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces arrested at least nine Palestinians during overnight raids across multiple areas of the occupied West Bank, conducting home searches and property inspections.

On Sunday, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said Israeli forces have detained at least 100 Palestinians since the start of Ramadan.

According to official Palestinian figures, more than 9,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 66 women and 350 children.

The West Bank has been subjected to Israeli military escalation and escalating settler rampage against villages and towns since the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023.

Palestinian data indicate that at least 1,117 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the territory during that period, with approximately 11,500 others injured and around 22,000 arrested.