Germany condemns attack by extremist Israeli settlers on mosque in West Bank

BERLIN

Germany on Thursday condemned an attack by extremist Israeli settlers on a mosque in the West Bank amid a surge in settler violence in occupied Palestinian territories.

“We condemn the arson attack on a mosque in Deir Istiya in the West Bank,” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on social media.

“The recent surge in violence by extremist settlers is deeply concerning. This violence must be halted, incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable,” the ministry said.

Israeli settlers torched and defaced a mosque in a Palestinian village in the central West Bank overnight Wednesday, according to local authorities and media reports.

Attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers have escalated in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023. According to Palestinian figures, more than 1,070 Palestinians have been killed and 10,300 injured.

The UN and human rights groups have documented hundreds of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in 2024-2025, including arson, vandalism and physical assaults. These attacks often occur in the presence of Israeli forces, who rarely intervene.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion declaring Israel's decades-long occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza illegal under international law. The court urged the evacuation of all Israeli settlements and an end to policies that alter the demographic composition of these territories.