Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to a mosque, homes and a vehicle in the village of Tuwana in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron on 19 July, according to Palestinian media. Palestinian officials described the incident as a major escalation, accusing settlers of acting under the protection of Israeli forces and calling for urgent international intervention.
According to Maan News Agency, the attacks caused significant damage to property in Tuwana. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs condemned the mosque fire as a “dangerous escalation” and a “fully-fledged terrorist act,” alleging it was intended to force Palestinian residents from the area. The ministry also accused the Israeli government of enabling settler violence and appealed to the UN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and international human rights organizations to provide protection for Palestinian civilians and religious sites.
Separate incidents were also reported in other parts of the West Bank. In the Wadi al-Rakhim area south of Masafer Yatta, settlers allegedly attacked Palestinian homes, assaulted residents, stole livestock and caused a child to suffer a seizure. In Beita, south of Nablus, four Palestinians were reported injured during another settler attack targeting homes and property.
Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh described the latest incidents in Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah as part of a broader escalation, citing attacks on homes, places of worship, olive trees and livestock. Palestinian media also reported that Israeli authorities issued evacuation orders for several homes in Kafr Aqab, north of Jerusalem, ahead of planned demolitions.
According to figures cited by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, 3,488 settler attacks were documented in the first half of 2026, alongside the establishment of 42 settlement outposts and the seizure of 4,379 dunums of Palestinian land. Palestinian officials warned that continued violence and demolitions could further intensify tensions across the occupied West Bank.
