RAMALLAH, September 10, 2018 (WAFA) – The killing of a Palestinian young man by Israeli gunfire in the northern besieged Gaza Strip dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Monday.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Israeli forces killed Atef Muhammad Saleh, 32, purportedly while attempting to breach the border fence separating Gaza from Israel to the east of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. The army is withholding his body.
Al-Ayyam added that the man succumbed to his wounds several hours after being shot by Israeli forces.
It added that Israeli forces detained three Palestinians from Gaza purportedly for attempting to infiltrate into Israel.
Additionally, the dailies highlighted Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s decision to close the financial gap arising from the US administration’s decision to cut off over $20 million for hospitals in East Jerusalem.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Quds added in this regard that the Palestinian National Council condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision targeting hospitals in East Jerusalem.
Commenting on the US administration’s earlier decision to stop $360 million for the UN relief agency, al-Ayyam reported sources from within UNRWA warning that cutting off aid threatens two million Palestinian refugees in Jordan.
Furthermore, the dailies said that over 200 Israeli Jewish settlers, including Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, forced their way into East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Al-Quds explained that 230 settlers and 73 Mormons from the US stormed the holy site, while al-Ayyam said that a total of 258 settlers did so.
They added that an Israeli police officer was caught carrying a bottle of wine while touring the holy site.
Al-Quds also reported that Israeli police detained nine Palestinians immediately after exiting the holy site.
Moreover, al-Quds reported Deputy Chairman of UNRWA’s Employees Union Amal al-Batsh stating: “We are back to square one after UNRWA reneged on understandings [it had reached with the [.”
Batsh apparently made these remarks after the UNRWA failed to honor an agreement on resolving the issue of employees threatened with dismissal.
Yet, al-Ayyam said that Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki delivered a letter from President Mahmoud Abbas to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un while meeting the latter in Pyongyang.
According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, Abbas briefed Kim about the measures taken by the US administration to liquidate the Palestinian question.
On the other hand, al-Hayat al-Jadida opted to highlight President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks as he conferred the State Appreciation Prize for Literature, Arts and Humanities upon a number of authors at his office in Ramallah.
He commended the Palestinian people for continuing to be creative despite all difficulties and hurdles they encounter.
Regarding intra-Palestinian talks to achieve reconciliation in Cairo, al-Quds quoted well-informed Palestinian sources saying that it was Israel that has hampered the efforts to achieve reconciliation.
It also reported member of Hamas political bureau Maher Obeid announcing that a Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo after September 15 for talks on reconciliation and “ceasefire” with Israel.
K.F./M.K.
