RAMALLAH, May 21, 2017 (WAFA) – The open-ended mass hunger strike launched by over 1800 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and the US-Arab Islamic summit hit the front pages of the three Arabic dailies on Sunday.
Al-Ayyam, al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Quds highlighted the ongoing indefinite hunger strike, also known as “The Freedom and Hunger battle”, which was declared by Palestinian prisoners to protest the difficult living conditions in Israeli jails.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the Israel Prison Service (IPS) has moved a number of Palestinian prisoners held in Asqalan prison, in the south of the country to the Israeli hospital Barzilai after their health deteriorated, while al-Ayyam said that strike has entered its 34th day.
It also said that Issa Qaraqe, minister of prisoners’ affairs, called on IPS to reveal the health conditions of prisoners.
Al-Quds said that the prisoners are still going strong with the strike, amidst pro-strikers protests throughout the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip in support of the prisoners.
The three dailies also reported on the death of Fatima Taqatqa, 16, who succumbed to injuries she sustained two months ago after being shot by Israeli forces after an alleged car ramming attack in the Israeli settlement bloc of Gush Etzion.
On a different subject, the three dailies highlighted US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia to participate in the US-Arab Islamic summit along with leaders and representatives of Islamic countries.
Al-Quds put a main headline on the front page that said that Trump participates in Gulf and Arab-Islamic summit. A minor headline said that the US signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with the Saudi Arabia.
It also said that Trump and the Saudi King discussed peace process.
Al-Hayat and al-Ayyam also reported on the US multi-billion-dollar deal with Saudi Arabia. Al-Ayyam said that Trump signed $380 billion deal with Saudi Arabia, while al-Hayat said that he received warm welcome in the country.
Trump’s upcoming visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank was also reported in the three dailies. They said that Israel is on high alert in preparation to welcome Trump.
The three newspapers reported on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent official trips. Al-Hayat said that Abbas met with King Felipe VI of Spain on the sideline of his participation in the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa, which is being held at the Dead Sea in Jordan.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Abbas arrived in the Saudi Capital of al-Riyadh to attend and participate in the US-Arab Islamic summit.
K.T./T.R.
