Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Tell early Monday (February 23, 2026), the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Religious Affairs said.
"The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attempt by a group of settlers to set fire to a part of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, near Nablus, and the writing of racist slogans on its walls", the Ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry noted an increase in attacks on mosques in the West Bank, totalling 45 in 2025. "The burning of part of the mosque clearly demonstrates the barbarity reached by the Israeli racist incitement machine toward Islamic and Christian holy sites in Palestine", the Ministry said.
Israeli settlers torch mosque, scrawl hateful messages after condemnation from military leaders
An AFP journalist on the ground reported burnt carpets, broken front doors, walls, and windows blackened by fire. However, there was no structural damage as the fire did not catch and spread throughout the whole building.
