RAMALLAH, April 18, 2017 (WAFA) – The mass hunger strike launched on Monday by over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails occupied for the third consecutive day most of the front page headlines in the Wednesday Palestinian dailies.

Al-Quds said more Palestinian detainees joined the strike as Israeli Prison Service (IPS) imposed punitive measures.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israel has refused to negotiate with the strikers, opting instead to step up punitive measures.

In other news, al-Ayyam said Palestinian and US official are expected to meet in Washington on April 25 to prepare for President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with US President Donald Trump, also expected for May 3.

Al-Quds said Trump’s team has prepared a draft plan demanding that the Palestinians return to negotiations with Israel without setting any conditions and halt transfer of funds to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the cabinet expressing its readiness to take over and run government institutions in Gaza.

It said the cabinet called on Hamas to commit itself to Abbas’ plan to restore national unity.

It added Israeli bulldozers demolished two Palestinian caravans and displaced 17 Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabber.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the cabinet has declared Monday, April 24, a holiday marking the Isra and Miraj Muslim event.

It said Fatah student faction at Najah University in Nablus won most seats of the student council in elections that included Hamas.

K.F./M.K.