RAMALLAH, June 20, 2012 (WAFA) – The Israeli air strikes against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian retaliation targeting southern Israel dominated Wednesday’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Al-Ayyam reported on the escalation in tension in Gaza with the Israeli airstrikes targeting several locations across the Strip and injuring several Palestinians. Meanwhile Palestinian fighters in Gaza launched missiles at southern Israel, injuring several Israelis amid expectations that the violence would continue for several days.

The daily printed a picture of Palestinian women mourning during the funeral of one of Palestinian victims of the Israeli airstrikes.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said an unknown group called Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem claimed responsibility for the attack on the Israeli southern borders with Egypt that led to the current situation in Gaza. The group also claimed the two fighters that penetrated the Israeli borders were Egyptian and Saudi.

Al-Quds highlighted the arson of a mosque in Jaba’, a village northeast of Jerusalem, by Israeli settlers in a “price tag” attack to avenge Israeli government plans to evict settlers from Ulpana outpost built on private Palestinian land in the illegal settlement of Beit El near Ramallah.

The newspaper printed a photo of residents checking the damage caused to the mosque.

The prime headline in al-Hayat al-Jadida featured news from Egypt concerning the health of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. It said his health was worsening and that he was unconscious and relying on life-support machines.

Al-Quds reported on a late-night Israeli army raid of Dheisheh refugee camp south of Bethlehem and the clashes that erupted between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers afterwards.

R.Q./M.S.