RAMALLAH, Saturday, March 16, 2019 (WAFA) – The terrorist act in two mosques in New Zealand that killed 49 people as they were performing the Friday prayers and which shocked the world, as well as the popular protests in Gaza against high cost of living and taxes hit the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies today.
Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam led with long headlines and pictures from the New Zealand massacre scene, with al-Quds describing it as a “calamity” while al-Ayyam calling it a “massacre.”
Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on this topic as well on its front page describing it as a “terrorist act” and said that President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the attack. However, it opted to lead with the protests in Gaza with a three-word large font headline that went across the front page saying “Out, Hamas, Out,” which is what the protesters have been chanting.
The paper also printed a picture of what it described as the “youth movement” burning tires in the streets in Gaza and said Hamas has arrested dozens including photojournalist Osama Kahlout after attacking him and his mother.
Al-Quds, which dedicated most of its front page to the New Zealand attack, and al-Ayyam reported as well on the Gaza protests, with al-Ayyam describing them as “we want to live” protests.
However, the two dailies gave attention to the escalation in Gaza and its aftermath with Israel firing over 100 missiles at different locations in the Gaza Strip after two missiles were fired from Gaza to the Tel Aviv area in Israel.
They said that interventions from Egypt have helped de-escalate the situation after both Hamas and Israel have expressed willingness not to escalate it further.
Al-Quds said in a story on this, quoting sources, that the Islamic Jihad has rejected and protested a tweet from Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk in which he hinted at the Islamic Jihad for being responsible for the firing of the two missiles toward Tel Aviv.
Al-Ayyam said that dozens of Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank yesterday.
Al-Quds said the weekly March of Return Gaza protests on the border with Israel was called off yesterday.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said that over 40,000 Muslims have performed the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, particularly at Bab al-Rahma prayer area, which Israel is trying very hard to keep the Muslim worshippers away from.
M.K.
