RAMALLAH, Sunday, April 24, 2022 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic-language dailies focused today on the Israeli restrictions imposed yesterday on the access of Christian worshipers and pilgrims to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied Jerusalem during the Holy Fire ceremony, which precedes Easter Sunday.

Al-Quds wrote in bold black: “Orthodox churches celebrate Holy Saturday in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher despite the Israeli occupation’s restrictions and assaults.”

Al-Ayyam wrote in the main story: “Israeli checkpoints and extensive deployment of forces prevent access of thousands of Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to attend the Holy Fire ceremony.”

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida wrote: “Despite the Israeli occupation’s restrictions and assaults, [Christians] celebrated Holy Saturday in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.”

On a different subject, the three dailies said three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli settlers’ gunfire yesterday outside the town of Surif, to the northwest of Hebron in the southern West Bank.

Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam said the Israeli occupation authorities yesterday closed Beit Hanoun crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, a pedestrian crossing, and Karm Abu Salem commercial crossing in the south of the territory.

The three dailies said President Mahmoud Abbas mourned Salah Ta’amari, a late Palestinian freedom fighter who died yesterday in Bethlehem at the age of 80.

Al-Quds said Israeli police dispersed dozens of activists who demonstrated in the city of Umm al-Fahm, in the north of 1948-occupied Palestine, in protest of the latest Israeli raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh as saying that “Palestine is for the Palestinians”, in response to remarks made earlier by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet.

M.N