Escalating Violence in West Bank Leaves Worshippers in Fear

In the village of Madama near Nablus, a shocking incident unfolded as Israeli forces unleashed tear gas into a mosque filled with worshippers during evening prayers. Among them was 66-year-old Naim Ahmed Faraj, who suffers from health issues, and succumbed to suffocation from the gas. His son, Mohammed, recounted the harrowing episode that left his father semiconscious before being rushed home as no ambulances were available.

"The mosque is supposed to be a safe haven, yet it now instills fear among worshippers amid rising violence in the occupied West Bank," Mohammed told Al Jazeera. This incident is part of a concerning trend in the region, where attacks by Israeli settlers and military forces have surged, particularly as the country approaches general elections next month.

Naim highlighted how these attacks, often synchronized with prayer times, are designed to instill panic within the community. He described his village as an isolated enclave, encircled by settlements and military presence, leading to a pervasive sense of dread. The expansion of illegal settlements, now home to over 750,000 settlers, is bolstered by extremist political leaders who oppose the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Following the Madama incident, a violent assault targeted the Imad al-Din Zanki mosque in Bazariya, where settlers set a fire and vandalized the building with inflammatory graffiti. Taysir Safarini, former head of the Bazariya village council, recounted the panic as neighbors rushed to extinguish the flames.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs has condemned these attacks, noting that at least 13 mosques have been vandalized this year alone. The UN reports a staggering toll of violence, with at least 76 Palestinians, including children, killed this year, leaving families grappling with the harsh reality of daily life under siege.

Source: www.aljazeera.com