Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in the West Bank on Thursday, while settlers reportedly set fire to a mosque, highlighting a sharp rise in violence across the occupied territory.
The Israeli military said its forces targeted two suspected militants near the town of Karmei Zur, claiming they were planning an imminent attack. “A short while ago, IDF soldiers operating adjacent to the community of Karmei Zur eliminated two terrorists who were on their way to carry out a terror attack,” the military said, offering no further details.
Palestinian authorities did not immediately release information about the two men. However, the Ramallah-based Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the actions of Israeli settlers, who set ablaze the Hajja Hamida mosque near Deir Istiya in northern West Bank. Photographs from the scene showed burnt copies of the Koran, blackened walls, and graffiti defacing the mosque.
“This blatantly violates the sanctity of places of worship and reflects the deep-rooted racism driving settlers under the protection of the occupying government,” the ministry said.
The incident comes amid a surge in settler violence across the West Bank. Last month, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported October 2025 as the worst month for settler attacks since it began tracking them in 2006, with at least 264 incidents causing casualties or property damage. Few perpetrators have faced consequences.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, head of the Israeli army, recently pledged to halt such violence. “These acts contradict our values, cross a red line, and divert the attention of our troops from their mission,” he said, vowing decisive action to ensure accountability.
Since the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023, violence has escalated sharply. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 1,003 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, while Israeli figures report 43 deaths among soldiers and civilians in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank.
The events underscore deepening tensions in a territory Israel has occupied since 1967, where more than 500,000 Israeli settlers now live. International law considers all settlements illegal, yet the cycle of violence shows little sign of abating.
