Abbas hospitalised after chest infection

ramallah — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been hospitalised in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, giving conflicting accounts on the leader’s condition.

It was the third time Abbas, 82, had been hospitalised in a week. He underwent minor ear surgery on Tuesday and was hospitalised again briefly overnight on Saturday/Sunday, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

One Palestinian official said Abbas went back into hospital again on Sunday due to complications after Tuesday’s ear surgery. Abbas’ temperature was high, he said, “so doctors advised that he go back into hospital”.

However, a source at Al Istishari hospital in Ramallah said the president’s condition was unrelated to the ear operation.

“The president will stay in hospital

The president will stay in hospital until tomorrow. He is being given antibiotics to treat an inflammation in the chest

A source at Al Istishari hospital

until tomorrow. He is being given antibiotics to treat an inflammation in the chest,” the hospital source said. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he or she was not authorised to speak with the media.

Abbas’ hospitalisation has coincided with an escalation in Israeli-Palestinian tensions after Israeli troops shot dead dozens of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border on May 14 as the new US Embassy opened in Jerusalem. —