Hajja Hamida Mosque after it was set on fire and vandalized by 'Israeli' settlers (Credit: AFP)
'Israeli' forces kill two Palestinian children, settlers torch West Bank mosque
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Two Palestinian children were shot and killed by 'Israeli' forces on Thursday in Beit Ummar, a town north of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency.
The children were shot in the southern part of the town, after which 'Israeli' soldiers seized their bodies and declared the area a closed military zone.
Local activist Mohammed Awad said 'Israeli' forces have stepped up raids in the area, pursuing farmers and escalating pressure on residents. “Palestinians have faced beatings, arrests and escalating settler assaults aimed at pressuring residents to leave the land,” Awad explained. The violence is concentrated near the illegal Karmei Tzur settlement, which has expanded into Palestinian lands.
Earlier on Thursday, 'Israeli' settlers reportedly attacked the Hajja Hamida Mosque near the Palestinian town of Deir Istiya. The mosque was set on fire around dawn, with at least one wall and three copies of the Quran destroyed. Graffiti with racist and threatening slogans, including “we are not afraid,” “we will revenge again,” and “keep on condemning,” were also sprayed on the building.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, stating it reflects 'Israeli' government “incitement and extremism policies.” Human rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has surged, often carried out with impunity under 'Israel’s' far-right government.
