UN Secretary General Strictly Condemns Israel's Illegal Settlement Attack On Mosques In The West Bank

Attack on mosques in the West Bank. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday strongly condemned the attacks carried out by Israeli illegal settlers against a mosque in the occupied West Bank.

"Secretary General firmly condemns the attack reported by Israeli settlers against a mosque in Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank," his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told a news conference.

"The acts of violence and blasphemy on such religious sites are unacceptable," he said.

"Religious sites must be respected and protected at all times," Secretary General Guterres said, condemning "all attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank."

Israel's illegal pemukim set fire to the Hajja Hamida Mosque, which is located between the cities of Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris, northwest of Salfit, early Thursday, and doodleed racist slogans on the walls, quoted from WAFA.

Nazmi Salman, a local activist who opposes the expansion of settlements, said residents were surprised to learn that the settlers had set fire to the mosque by pouring flammable materials at the entrance.

"These kinds of incidents are part of an increasingly escalating pattern of extremist violence and trigger tensions, and must be stopped immediately," the spokesman said.

Dujarric also noted that "Israel, as a occupation force, must protect the Palestinian civilian population and ensure that those responsible for the attack are held accountable."

Attacks by Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers have escalated in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war in October 2023, killing more than 1,070 Palestinians and injuring 10,300 others, according to Palestinian data.

In a historic ruling in July, the International Court declared Israel's occupation of illegal Palestinian territories and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.