Israeli settlers torch West Bank mosques after deadly clash

A violent confrontation between Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers in the occupied West Bank on Friday, July 24, has triggered a wave of military raids, settler attacks, and heightened fears of a broader escalation. The incident in the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead, setting off a chain of events that has seen mosques burned, dozens detained, and entire communities sealed off.

According to local accounts, the clash began when a group of armed Israeli settlers approached Tal. Villagers, who officials say have faced repeated harassment, confronted the settlers. Video footage and reports indicate a physical altercation during which a Palestinian villager seized a rifle from a settler and fired it, killing one Israeli. Settlers then opened fire on the crowd, killing four Palestinians and wounding at least seven others. A second Israeli was also killed, though the circumstances remain unclear. Israeli military radio later reported an internal investigation confirmed the incident was not a pre-planned Palestinian attack.

In response, Israeli authorities launched widespread operations. The military sealed off roads around...