RAMALLAH, May 17, 2018 (WAFA) – The Israeli shelling of locations in the Gaza Strip during the night was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Thursday.
While the shelling did not cause any injuries, big explosions were heard in the besieged coastal enclave.
The papers also reported on the clashes that took place between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank as well as the Israeli army detention of scores of Palestinians for resisting the occupation.
Developments and activities in the aftermath of the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem on Monday and Israeli army killing of more than 60 Palestinians in Gaza on that day were reported on the front page of the dailies.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said: “Rage over the Gaza massacre and the American settlement outpost continue.” It reported on the demonstration in Chicago against the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem, which the paper referred to as “American settlement outpost.”
It quoted President Mahmoud Abbas saying that the role of the US as peace broker is not acceptable any more, and it quoted presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh saying the US has lost credibility and became an accomplice in the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.
Al-Ayyam said the foreign ministry has summoned Palestinian ambassadors in four European countries for consultation after the ambassadors of these countries in Israel participated in events celebrating the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
It also said Hamas denied Israeli reports that it was pressured by Egypt to stop the border protests.
Al-Quds quoted Hamas leader in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, saying Israel went back on a deal for exchange of prisoners.
The paper also said in another story that Turkey humiliated the Israeli ambassador to Ankara when he underwent security inspection at Istanbul airport as he was getting ready to leave the country following his expulsion in protest against Israel’s murder of Palestinians in Gaza.
It said Luxemburg summoned the Israeli ambassador and Belgium demanded an apology from Israel over statements regarding the Palestinians killed in Gaza. It also said Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov condemned as repugnant Israel’s calling the murdered Palestinian civilians in Gaza as “terrorists.”
It said the one minute silent stand at the United Nations Security Council in memory of the murdered Palestinians in Gaza has angered Israel.
It said US special Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt held talks in Doha with Qatari leaders. The talks evolved around Gaza, said the paper.
It said a “Freedom Flotilla” is expected to sail from Sweden to break the siege on Gaza.
Al-Quds said the European Union missions in the Palestinian areas have expressed concern after a visit to al-Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank over Israel’s imminent demolition of Palestinian structures in the Jordan Valley that were funded by the EU.
It said Israel issued military laws that expand the authority of the army’s so-called “Civil Administration” in the occupied territories in demolishing Palestinian homes in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military occupation.
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