Israeli settlers torch mosque in West Bank village of Jiljilya
Overnight on June 17, Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in Jiljilya, West Bank, causing extensive damage. Palestinian officials urge protection of religious sites.
Residents of Jiljilya, a village north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, awoke on the morning of June 17 to find their mosque had been set ablaze overnight. Burnt tires, Hebrew graffiti reading "revenge," and widespread damage were left behind in Area A, a zone under Palestinian Authority administration where Israeli civilians are prohibited from entering.
Local residents reported hearing explosions shortly after 2 a.m. and then seeing smoke rising from the mosque. According to the mosque's imam, Mohammad Khasib, between 15 and 20 tires were set on fire inside the ablution area, causing extensive damage to the building. Hebrew graffiti, including the word "revenge" and references to detainees, was spray-painted on the exterior walls.
The incident was one of two reported attacks on mosques overnight in villages north of Ramallah. Palestinian officials stated that dozens of mosques and churches across the occupied West Bank have been vandalized or damaged since the start of 2026, amid a wider rise in violence linked to Israeli settlers.
Inside the mosque, walls and doors were blackened by soot, while intense heat cracked and damaged the floor tiles. Local residents returned to the site on Wednesday morning to clear debris and clean the damaged areas. At the time of reporting, Israeli police and military authorities had not publicly commented on the incident. Palestinian leaders called for stronger protection of religious sites and accountability for those responsible.
