RAMALLAH, September 24, 2012 (WAFA) – The discovery of an underground structure in the northern West Bank village of Ureef, south of Nablus, which the Palestinian security said was used as an underground prison for Hamas, dominated the front page of Monday’s Palestinian Arabic dailies.

The top front page story in al-Hayat al-Jadida highlighted this story quoting officials and security officers in Nablus saying the prison was discovered following the arrest of some Hamas operatives in the area. It said the prison was underground and a tunnel from a nearby restaurant leads to it. It also has electric outlets, water, satellite, and communication equipment.

The security said they found also hundreds of thousands of US dollars, flags, leaflets, videos, documents and military uniforms for Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.

The main front page story of al-Quds highlighted reports that Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has decided to step down as head of the movement, which he led since 1996. The Reuters story quoted Hamas officials in Gaza that Meshaal has informed them that he does not intend to stay in his position any longer and that they should look for an alternative to lead the movement.

The story quoted the officials as saying that Meshaal’s decision came in frustration over the way Hamas leaders in Gaza operate and their refusal to follow his lead. It said Ismail Haniyeh, who heads Hamas in Gaza, is a likely successor.

Al-Ayyam decided to focus on a government decision to control prices of basic commodities. It quoted the minister of economy as saying that prices of eight commodities will be set including bread, sugar, milk, eggs, rice, chicken, oil and meat.

The discovery of the body of a 10-year-old boy, declared missing few days earlier in the Jenin area and killed and buried in the ground, was reported on the front page of the three dailies.

The papers also said that two prisoners, who have been on hunger strike for more than three months, ended their strike after reaching a deal with the Israeli authorities to release them. One prisoner, Samer al-Barq, will be sent to Egypt after his release, which could be any day now; the second, Hasan Safadi, won a court decision for his release at the end of his administrative detention term, which will be October 29.

Al-Quds had a story on the front page saying that West Jerusalem municipality staff handed 18 demolition orders to Palestinian residents in Silwan, Shufat and Wadi al-Joz.

The meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee of donor countries to the Palestinian people was highlighted on the front page of the dailies.

M.S./F.R.