Kathmandu— Israeli military and settler groups have launched a series of coordinated attacks on mosques in the occupied West Bank, causing panic among Palestinian worshippers. The incidents include tear gas canisters thrown into mosques and arson attacks, leading to injuries and displacement. Naim Ahmed Faraj, a 66-year-old man with health issues, collapsed after inhaling tear gas during evening prayers in Madama village near Nablus.

Daily Incursions

Naim described the raids as daily occurrences, often timed to coincide with prayer hours. Soldiers and settlers collaborate to terrorize local residents, making it difficult for Palestinians to find safe areas within their own villages. The expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank further isolates Palestinian communities, cutting through towns and villages.

Arson and Graffiti

Hours after the attack on Madama’s mosque, settlers launched a separate violent raid on the Imad al-Din Zanki mosque in Bazariya. Attackers poured flammable liquids onto the ground floor of the building and set it ablaze. Taysir Safarini, former head of the Bazariya village council, recounted how neighbors tried to extinguish the fire themselves after civil defense crews were alerted.

Human Toll

According to the United Nations, at least 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the territory this year. More than 3,800 people have been displaced due to these attacks. The UN recorded over 1,450 settler attacks resulting in roughly 1,040 injuries, while the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission estimates that the total number of attacks exceeds 6,000.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.