Reuters journalist Raneen Sawafta is moved by medics following an Israeli settler attack, near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo: Nidal Eshtayeh/Reuters)
The Palestinian Authority (PA) announced on Thursday that Israeli soldiers had killed two 15-year-olds in the occupied West Bank, amidst a rise in Israeli settler violence across the West Bank in recent weeks, drawing international condemnation.
This follows the four Palestinians, including three children, shot dead by the Israeli army between Nov. 4 and 10, bringing the total to at least six Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since the beginning of November.
The killings come as Israel said it had received the body of one of the last four hostages held in Gaza from the Red Cross on Thursday as part of the cease-fire deal with Hamas.
It later said forensics experts had confirmed the body was that of Meny Godard, 73, killed during the Hamas incursions into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, the PA foreign ministry denounced the arson attack by Israeli settlers on the Hajja Hamida mosque near the town of Deir Istiya in the north of the occupied West Bank, a day after the Israeli army chief released a statement pledging to address the surge in settler violence.
"This blatantly violates the sanctity of places of worship and reflects the deep-rooted racism driving settlers under the protection of the occupying government," the PA foreign ministry said.
AFP photographs from the scene showed burned copies of the Quran, walls blackened by smoke and graffiti on one of the mosque's walls.
The Israeli military said security forces were dispatched to the scene following "a report and footage... regarding suspects who set fire to a mosque and sprayed graffiti."
In a statement, it said that no suspects were identified after a review of the incident, which was handed over to the Israeli police and security agency.
'Red line'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, with his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric saying that "such acts of violence and desecration of religious sites are unacceptable."
"Such incidents are part of an increasing pattern of extremist violence that is inflaming tensions and must stop immediately," Dujarric said.
Earlier this month, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) published a report documenting 264 Israeli settler attacks during October 2025 that resulted in either casualties, property damage, or both, across the West Bank, marking the highest monthly total since OCHA began recording such incidents in 2006.
More than 150 Palestinians were injured in these attacks and more than 5,700 olive trees damaged. Last week, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers, activists and journalists, including Reuters reporter Raneen Sawafta, near Nablus during an olive harvest.
Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, where more than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in rapidly expanding settlements that are illegal under international law.
Israeli perpetrated violence has surged across the West Bank since Israel's war on Gaza broke out in October 2023. Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,003 Palestinians in the West Bank since the war started, according to the PA Health Ministry.
During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.
