RAMALLAH, May 27, 2017 (WAFA) – While reports early Saturday said that the prisoners who have been on hunger strike for 40 days have ended their strike, the Saturday issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies, which came out before news of the end of the strike, highlighted reports of an escalation in the strike as well as public support.
The headline in al-Hayat al-Jadida on the hunger strike said: “The prisoners have raised the ceiling of their demands and announce fasting Ramadan.”
The headline in al-Quds said: “The prisoners are demanding to be recognized as war prisoners.”
Al-Ayyam highlighted the protests in the occupied territories in support of the prisoners and said in the headline” “Dozens injured when (Israeli) occupation forces cracked down on protests and marches in the West Bank and Gaza in support of the prisoners.”
The papers also highlighted the bus terror attack in Egypt and said that President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the attack and expressed support for the Egyptian people and leadership in fighting terrorism. They also said Egyptian air force attacked bases for terrorists in neighboring Libya.
The papers also said Israel returned the corpse of 14-year-old Raed Radaydeh, from the town of Obeidiyeh, northeast of Bethlehem, who was shot dead on Monday by Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint near his town after an alleged attack with a knife. Radaydeh is expected to be buried on Saturday.
The dailies said that Saturday is the first day of the Muslim fast month of Ramadan.
Al-Quds quoted Hamas leader Khalil Hayyeh saying at a Friday sermon that his organization will not accept intensifying the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel for 10 years.
It also said in another story that Hamas has given time for whom it described as “collaborators with the occupiers” to repent.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said members of the Fatah movement court were sworn-in in front of President Mahmoud Abbas. They include: Majed Helo, president, and Taysir Jaradat, Saeb Nathif, Khawla Azraq, Iyad Nasr, and Hanna Issa, members.
Al-Ayyam said Fatah Revolutionary Council has voted to name the longest serving Palestinian prisoner in Israel, Karim Younis, to be a member of Fatah Central Committee. Younis is from the town of Ara in the Israel. He was sentenced to life in prison for resisting the Israeli occupation and has completed 34 years in detention.
M.K.
