SALFIT, December 20, 2024 (WAFA) – The Governor of Salfit, Major General Abdullah Kmeil, has held the Israeli far-right government fully responsible for the “heinous crime” committed by Israeli colonists early on Friday, when they stormed Marda village, north of Salfit, and set fire to the Bir al-Walidain mosque.

The attackers also scrawled racist and vengeful slogans against Arabs and Muslims, along with threats to kill and retaliate against the villagers.

In an official statement issued by the governor’s office, Kmeil described the incident as part of an ongoing, organized escalation of aggression by colonist gangs.

He pointed out that these attacks are a direct result of the racist sentiments and continuous incitement from extremist rabbis and government ministers in Israel, carried out under the protection and support of the Israeli occupation forces. He stressed that these crimes reflect a breakdown of security in the occupied territories, putting Palestinian rights and safety at great risk.

The Governor condemned the actions of the colonists, who infiltrated the village at dawn, set the mosque on fire, and wrote hateful slogans against Arabs and Muslims. Kmeil called the attack a “major crime,” underscoring the deep-seated hatred and racism fueling these violent acts.

He also emphasized the urgent need for international intervention in light of the rising colonist violence in the Salfit region, particularly targeting Palestinian towns and villages.

He called for the activation of protection committees to safeguard the Palestinian population, stressing the importance of collective efforts from all official, national, and popular organizations to prevent further colonist terrorism and halt the expansion of Israeli colonial settlements.

M.N