The situation in Gaza, following the murder of Mohammad Abu Khudair and the Israeli violence, was the issue that dominated the headlines of newspapers across the region
An editorial in the UAE’s Al Bayan spoke about the violence that erupted following the murder of the three Israeli colonists and Palestinian teenager Mohammad Abu Khudair. The editorial says that a total of nine people were killed on Sunday night and early morning on Monday in a series of air strikes on Gaza. (The toll has now risen to at least 40). The main objective of these air strikes was to strike terror in the hearts of the people of the Gaza Strip, and Israel was committing a massacre against the Palestinian resistance.
The air strikes also served as a clear message to the Palestinians in Gaza: Beware of joining in the uprising of your compatriots in occupied Jerusalem and the 1948 areas.
Elsewhere in occupied Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, Israel did not spare any tear-gas cannisters, and rubber or live bullets while dealing with protesters who marched to condemn a crime against a kid from occupied Jerusalem in front of the international community. This resulted in the wounding and arrests of dozens of Palestinians, and the arrest of 110 others in the 1948 areas, half of whom are children and minors.
Qatar’s Al Sharq said that the situation in Gaza is now crystal clear, and that an escalation is the most likely scenario. The editorial said that the Israel’s aggression continues as it waits for the zero hour to execute its infernal and brutal plans.
Impending aggression
The paper said that in light of the current situation, the responsibility for stopping it before it is too late falls jointly on the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on one hand, and the international community represented by the United Nations Security Council on the other. They have to move quickly to halt the aggression, and not rely on denunciations and condemnations that matter very little to the brutal Israeli occupation forces.
An editorial published in Palestine’s Al Quds newspaper spoke about the possibility that a third intifada might be looming following the murder of Mohammad Abu Khudair, with clashes occurring on a daily basis in Palestinian villages and cities in the Occupied Territories.
Public image
The editorial analyses the results of the first and second intifada, stating that the first was successful in gaining sympathy and solidarity around the world for Palestine, but most importantly, it also drained Israel’s military power and undermined its public image.
In the second intifada, which was reduced to an armed struggle, Israel was able to internationally brand these Palestinian armed actions as being part of the global terrorism that the US was waging its war against following the September 11 attacks, leading to an international decline in Palestine’s status.
Current events are occurring amidst a lack of clear strategic plan, which is worrisome.
The continued launching of rockets from Gaza will divert global attention from it, providing Israel with the opportunity to market the current situation as a war between parties that are equal in capabilities. Consequently, this will give the Israeli occupation forces the pretext to extend their aggression against Gaza.
