In a disturbing escalation of violence, Israeli settlers set fire to the Hajja Hamida Mosque near the occupied West Bank city of Salfit on Thursday. The attack, which occurred between the towns of Kafr Haris and Deir Istiya, left the mosque severely damaged, with charred walls, shattered windows, and racist graffiti spray-painted on its exterior. Residents arriving for dawn prayers were met with flames and thick smoke, forcing them to call the Civil Defence to control the blaze. Imam Ahmad Ahed Salman, who leads prayers at the mosque, described the scene as devastating, noting that settlers had poured flammable materials inside before the attack. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments condemned the incident as a ‘heinous crime,’ accusing Israel of systematically targeting places of worship to intimidate Palestinians. This attack is part of a broader surge in settler violence, which has intensified since October 2023, particularly during the olive harvest season—a critical period for Palestinian livelihoods. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, over 2,350 attacks were recorded in October alone, with the majority occurring in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern about the violence, warning that it could undermine ceasefire efforts in Gaza. Israeli security data also reveals a sharp increase in ‘nationalist crimes’ against Palestinians, with 704 incidents documented from January to October 2025, surpassing the total for 2024. The attack has left local communities fearful but resolute, with Salman vowing to rebuild the mosque and protect their homes.