News|Israel-Palestine conflictIsraeli settlers deface, set fire to West Bank mosque during RamadanAttack on Nablus-area mosque is latest in surge of Israeli settler and military violence targeting Palestinians.

On Mon, Feb 23, 2026, Israeli settlers reportedly defaced and set fire to the Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Mosque, located between the towns of Sarra and Tal near Nablus in the West Bank. This incident occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

According to reports, settlers graffitied racist slogans on the mosque walls. Security footage allegedly shows individuals carrying gasoline or petrol and spray paint towards the mosque, departing shortly after. The graffiti included derogatory phrases and the term "price tag," denoting attacks by settlers on Palestinian property.

The Israeli military and police stated they are investigating the incident and searching for suspects. However, human rights groups claim that Israeli authorities have permitted settlers to operate with impunity in their actions against Palestinians.

This event is part of a series of intensified Israeli settler and military actions in the West Bank. The UN Human Rights Council has criticized Israeli policies in the West Bank, citing them as a means of coercive displacement and alteration of the region's demographic composition.

Since October 2023, at least 1,094 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Religious Affairs reported 45 mosque vandalism incidents by settlers in the West Bank last year.

The UN has highlighted that these attacks are often conducted with the support or participation of Israeli security forces. Israeli organization B’Tselem accuses Israel of facilitating settler violence as part of a strategy to annex Palestinian land.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.