RAMALLAH, April 18, 2017 (WAFA) – The major open-ended hunger strike launched by 1,500 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails hit the Tuesday front page headlines in the Palestinian dailies.

The three dailies, al-Ayyam, al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Quds gave extensive coverage on their front page for the strike. They reported on the marches and rallies held in solidarity with hunger strikers as well as Israeli army crackdown on the marches.

Highlighting Israeli punitive measures, the papers said Israeli Prison Service (IPS) transferred a number of the prisoners’ leaders to solitary confinement.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Ayyam added Israeli occupation authorities would prosecute Fatah movement leader Marwan Barghouti in court to punish him for leading the strike and for his op-ed on the struggle of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons that appeared in the New York Times.

Furthermore, al-Quds reported senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq stating that Hamas is not at war with President Mahmoud Abbas, but it is against the Israeli occupation.

Al-Quds said US President Donald Trump has not set a date for Abbas’ visit yet, although some media reports said it would take place on May 3.

It highlighted disagreements among US officials regarding US position on the Palestinian issue.

It said Israeli forces shut down and sealed off two bookstores purportedly for incitement during a raid into the southern west Bank city of Hebron.

Al-Ayyam reported secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Erekat stating the Palestinian leadership was exerting its vigorous efforts to oblige Israel to abide by and respect the rights of Palestinian prisoners.

K.F./M.K.