Israeli settlers illegally entered a mosque in the northern West Bank during Ramadan prayers on Sunday evening, attacking worshippers and causing extensive damage to the property, international media reported.
Thaer Haneni, a local activist present at the time, reported to Anadolu news agency that the Beit Sheikh Mosque in Khirbet Tana village, east of Beit Furik town, was targeted. He described how four settlers in Israeli military attire arrived in an unmarked military vehicle, accompanied by a small cargo vehicle from their settlement’s security team.
The settlers confiscated IDs and mobile phones, conducted thorough searches, and detained worshippers in the mosque courtyard for nearly an hour. They proceeded to vandalise the mosque, damaging the pulpit, spilling oil, juice, and water on the carpets, and destroying electrical fixtures.
Haneni also noted ongoing attacks by settlers from nearby settlements, including Mikhora and Giv’at Ronim, as well as a pastoral outpost led by Itamar Cohen. The incident reflects broader tensions, with recent data showing a significant increase in settler attacks and displacement of Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
