In a troubling escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, Israeli troops killed two Palestinians on Thursday, labeling them as suspected militants. Concurrently, Palestinian officials accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to a mosque in the region. The Israeli military stated that the two individuals were eliminated while allegedly planning a terror attack near the community of Karmei Zur, though no further details were provided. Palestinian authorities also remained silent on specifics. Meanwhile, the Palestinian foreign ministry in Ramallah condemned the arson attack on the Hajja Hamida mosque near Deir Istiya, describing it as a violation of religious sanctity and a manifestation of deep-seated racism among settlers. Photographs from the scene revealed charred copies of the Koran and smoke-damaged walls, with graffiti also defacing the mosque. This incident followed a pledge by Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to curb settler violence, which he labeled as contradictory to Israeli values and a diversion from military missions. Despite his assurances, settler violence has surged, with October 2025 marking the worst month since records began in 2006, according to the UN. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 1,000 Palestinians and 43 Israelis in the West Bank since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023.