Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials, marking another escalation in violence following recent clashes. The attacks occurred in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, where a mosque under construction was torched by settlers. Abdel Azim Wadi, mayor of Qusra, reported the incident to AFP, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region. This follows a surge in violence since the Gaza war began with Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The incident underscores the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank, where Israeli military and settler activity continue to provoke unrest (arabnews.pk).
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who called for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu responded by accusing Mamdani of “fomenting hate” and dismissing international war-crimes charges as “bogus.” The dispute reflects broader international tensions over Israel’s actions in the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel has also approved a pilot scheme for a “Board of Peace” in Gaza’s Rafah, aiming to improve maritime traffic through key waterways, according to the Foreign Ministry (aljazeera.com).
In another development, Israel is preparing to allow a multinational security force into Gaza under a proposed ceasefire plan, as reported by an Israeli official. This move comes ahead of Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he will discuss regional security issues. The legal framework for the force’s entry has been approved by Netanyahu’s security cabinet, signaling potential changes in the humanitarian situation in the enclave (dawn.com).
