RAMALLAH, Thursday, February 25, 2021 (WAFA) – The recent surge in coronavirus cases in Palestine and calls for a two-week lockdown were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.

The main front-page headline in al-Ayyam daily said: "The pandemic is spreading and the Health Ministry recommends full lockdown for two weeks." Al-Quds daily said in its main front-page story that five people have died of coronavirus in Palestine yesterday and 1391 new corona cases were recorded.

It said two deaths and a worrisome rise in cases in East Jerusalem.

The third Palestinian Arabic daily, al-Hayat al-Jadida, said on this topic, which came lower on the front page, that dozens of schools in the West Bank were shuttered after several cases of coronavirus were discovered in them.

It also said that the European Union expressed readiness to provide 20 million euros to the Palestinian government to purchase vaccines for its population.

It also said that Ecuador called for supporting Palestine to get its fair share of the coronavirus vaccine.

The main front-page story in al-Hayat al-Jadida quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh saying that Qatar has pledged $60 million and the European Union 20 million euros to build the gas pipeline from Israel into Gaza’s power generating station.

It also said in another top front-page story that the United Nations has called on Israel to immediately halt demolition of Palestinian homes and possessions.

The second top front-page story in al-Quds daily said one man was shot and injured by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Abu Shkhedim, near Ramallah, as confrontations with Israeli forces were reported overnight in the two East Jerusalem neighborhoods of al-Tur and Isawiyya.

It also said that the Israeli High Court has called on the government to explain its cable car project in occupied East Jerusalem.

It said the UN Human Rights Council discussed a report about Israel’s failure to hold an impartial investigation into its violations against the Palestinian people.

Al-Ayyam daily highlighted remarks by the US Department of State spokesman saying that "we believe that the Palestinians deserve their legitimate aspirations for statehood and independence." On the Palestinian elections, al-Ayyam said it estimates that 50 percent of the Palestinian voters will be voting for the first time in their life.

It also said that a Fatah delegation is heading to Gaza next week as Fatah members persist on the issue of Hamas releasing political detainees.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said families of the detainees urged the release of their sons, while Hamas was sentencing members of Fatah for various prison sentences.

M.K.