RAMALLAH, August 6, 2018 (WAFA) – The death of a Palestinian teenage protestor almost four months after being shot by Israeli snipers in Gaza hit the front page headlines in Palestinian local dailies on Monday.
The dailies reported that Palestinian teenager Ahmad al-Aidi, 17, succumbed to his wounds sustained during the first Great March of Return protest on March 30, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central besieged Gaza Strip.
Additionally, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said seven Palestinians suffered injuries as Israeli drones targeted at least two posts in Beit Lahia town in the northern besieged enclave and near Gaza city.
Al-Quds added that Israeli forces conducted a raid into Azzun town, east of Qalqiliya city.
Highlighting the situation in Jerusalem, al-Quds reported that Israeli Jewish settlers forced their way into flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Al-Ayyam said settlers storming the holy site totaled 65.
Al-Quds also reported that settlers stormed the historic Islamic cemetery of Bab al-Rahma in Jerusalem, destroying tombstones.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Israeli forces detained a total of 12 Palestinians, including the mother of a Palestinian killed by Israelis, during multiple overnight raids across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Moreover, al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that Israel completed the construction of a marine barrier off the northern coast of Gaza.
The dailies also spotlighted renewed Egyptian-mediated efforts to strike a deal to lift the 12-year-old Israeli siege on Gaza and end violence.
Al-Quds reported in this regard that there are significant gaps between Hamas’ demands and what the Israeli occupation authorities intend to offer with regards to the possible emerging deal.
Regarding Hamas’ meeting with Palestinian factions in Gaza, al-Ayyam reported member of Hamas political bureau Husam Badran stating that the discussions between Hamas and other factions over the situation in Gaza are not over yet.
He was also reported stating that no arrangements would be taken in isolation from a Palestinian national consensus.
Member of the PLO Executive Committee Ahmad Majdalani was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida raising alarm about the possibility that a Hamas-Israel truce would drag Palestinians to the swamp of US President Donald Trump’s Mideast plan, dubbed deal of the century.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam highlighted news reports of a possible summit between President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Amman.
Abdullah was reported in the three dailies reaffirming his country’s longstanding and clear position on the Palestinian question.
Abbas reportedly congratulated his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on surviving an assassination attempt.
Yet, al-Ayyam reported presidential advisor Nabil Shaath denouncing reported US attempts to undercut the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
He reportedly said that Trump does not own UNRWA and none could abolish the UN relief agency.
It added that UNRWA employees went on a hunger strike for the second day in a row to protest absence of dialogue following UNRWA’s decision to terminate and downgrade the contracts of thousands of employees.
K.F./M.K.
