RAMALLAH, February 20, 2016 (WAFA) - The killing of three Palestinians by Israeli forces; one during Friday clashes and the two others following alleged car-ramming attack and stabbing attempt, hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

The three dailies reported that three Palestinians from the Bethlehem village of Beit Fajjar, the Jerusalem town of Kafr Aqab and the Ramallah village of Silwad were shot dead by Israeli forces.

Al-Ayyam described the killing of the three Palestinians as executions.

It is worth explaining in this regard that Khaled Taqatqa, 21, was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes in the Bethlehem village of Beit Fajjar. Muhammad Abu Khalaf, 20, from the Jerusalem town of Kafr Aqab, was also shot dead by Israeli police after he allegedly stabbed and wounded two police officers outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City. 

A third Palestinian identified as Abed Hamad was shot dead after he allegedly attempted to ram his car into Israeli soldiers in the Ramallah village of Silwad.

Furthermore, the three dailies reported that dozens of Palestinians were shot and injured during weekly Friday rallies across the West Bank and Gaza.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Israeli authorities stepped up Palestinian house demolitions.

With regards to hunger-striking detainee Mohammad al-Qiq, the three dailies reported that Israeli authorities have refused to allow al-Qiq’s family to visit him over the course of his hunger strike.

Al-Ayyam said in this regard that the Israeli supreme court gave the Israeli military prosecution until Sunday morning to explain the reasons for the ban on family visitation.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added that Palestinian government has intensified contacts with the purpose of obliging Israel to release al-Qiq.

Al-Ayyam quoted Palestine Prisoner’s Society as stating that over 700 Palestinians are held in Israeli administrative detention.

Regarding the French bid to convene an international peace conference, al-Quds reported that Washington received a copy of the French bid.

Highlighting President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to Thailand, al-Quds reported Abbas as thanking Thailand for their positions in support of the Palestinian people, adding that Abbas has invited Thailand Prime Minister to visit the occupied Palestinian Territories.

He was reported in al-Ayyam as stating that Palestinian leadership seeks to submit a draft resolution on Israeli settlement construction to the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida as stating that Palestinian leadership seeks to bring about peace and gain independence based on the two-state solution.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted in al-Hayat al-Jadida as stating: “Russia is interested in creating circumstances favorable to the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace process.”

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida as stating that “Israel’s settlement enterprise continues to be an impediment to peace” and that “policy shifts by Israel . . . are required.”

K.F./T.R.