WorldTwo mosques in the Israeli-occupied West Bank were set on fire overnight in an apparent Israeli settler attack, officials said Sunday, after a spate of deadly violence that killed four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers.Widespread violence threatening to ignite across territoryThe Associated Press · Posted: Jul 26, 2026 12:09 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.A Palestinian man inspects the damage at a mosque, which Palestinians say was damaged by Israeli settlers, in Qusra near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on July 26, 2026. (Mohamad Torokman/Reuters)Two mosques in the Israeli-occupied West Bank were set on fire overnight in an apparent Israeli settler attack, officials said Sunday, after a spate of deadly violence that killed four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers.The violence comes as Palestinians and the Israeli opposition accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government of turning a blind eye to attacks by settlers against Palestinians, which is threatening to ignite widespread violence across the territory.Israeli soldiers and police fanned out across the West Bank after the attack, closing off major roads and blocking access to a hospital where it said two militants were hiding. Israel also arrested more than 70 Palestinians over the weekend as they attempted to contain the escalating violence.The mosques, in the villages of Qusra and Kour in the northern West Bank, suffered extensive damage in the fires. In Qusra, the attackers spray-painted "revenge Benayahu," referring to one of the Israeli soldiers killed on Friday, and "the land of Israel is redeemed with blood." The soldier lived in a nearby settlement.Ahmed Abu Mahmoud, 64, who lives next door to the Qusra mosque, said he heard noises at 3 a.m. and discovered the mosque had been set on fire. The fire was too large for him to fight on his own, so he called for help. Mahmoud said livestock and a drinking tank had been stolen in the past month, but that Israeli authorities hadn't helped."The military arrived here saw with their own eyes and then left," he said Sunday.WATCH | Israeli settler violence against Palestinians intensifies:4 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers killed in West Bank clashJuly 24|Duration 2:45Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, amid a growing toll in recent weeks as Israeli settler violence against Palestinians has intensified. Local media reported that five Palestinian villages near Nablus were attacked by Israeli settlers on Friday.Midnight explosionSecurity footage in Kour obtained by The Associated Press showed three people dressed in civilian clothes setting off a large explosion in the entrance of the mosque in the middle of the night.On Sunday, residents held prayers despite damage to the entrance. Israel's military said it was working with police to investigate the mosque attack."The security forces strongly condemn incidents of this kind, including harm to religious sites, and will continue to act decisively to maintain security and public order in the area," it said.The Israeli army often announces investigations into violence against Palestinians, but rarely makes arrests or prosecutes settlers involved in violence.A Palestinian boy sits near a damaged a mosque, which Palestinians say was damaged by Israeli settlers, in Qusra near Nablus. Graffiti on the wall reads 'Revenge Benayahu,' in reference to the 32-year-old Israeli reserve soldier Benayahu Mellet, killed in a shooting near the Palestinian village of Tal. (Mohamad Torokman/Reuters)The military also reported it had sealed the homes of two Palestinian militants suspected of killing the soldiers in preparation for their demolition. Israel often demolishes the homes of attackers, claiming it deters future attacks.On Sunday, Netanyahu said troops entered villages across the West Bank to seize weapons and make arrests. "We are also prepared to operate on a broader scale against the terrorist nests," he said.Pope Leo appealed for peace in the Middle East at the end of his weekly Sunday prayer. He called on both sides to find a negotiated solution and to "reject new military actions and unilateral decisions, in particular those that violate the respect and status quo of the holy places of every religious faith."Israel detains more than 70 suspects after deadly violence in West BankExact circumstances unclearThe exact circumstances of Friday's deadly incidents remained unclear, but Israeli media reports and interviews with local Palestinian officials said they were sparked after a group of settlers entered the village of Tell and were confronted by residents who were fearful of an attack.According to the Israeli military, one of the Palestinians took one of the settlers' weapons and fired on the group, killing Benayahu Mellet, 32, a security guard from a nearby settlement.Israelis bury the body of Benayahu Mellet on July 24. (Naama Stern/Reuters)The towns and villages surrounding Nablus sit in one of the most violent parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinians and human rights groups have increasingly documented armed Israeli settlers entering villages in the area. Livestock theft, arson and the defacement of mosques are routinely reported.According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 87 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank this year, including 21 by Israeli settlers. Three Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinian militants in 2026, including the two soldiers on Friday.'I wanted to protect him': Mother mourns teen slain near school amid settler violence in West BankMore than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 and sought by the Palestinians for a future independent state. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlements be illegal and obstacles to peace.