Operation Protective Edge and developments in the conflict between Israel and Hamas continue to be widely covered in this morning’s dailies. Independent i and the online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph and Financial Times all report that Egypt’s foreign ministry has proposed a 12 hour ceasefire which would be followed two days later by talks between the two sides on a formal agreement. The Times and the online edition of the Telegraph both highlight that Israel has held off on a ground operation in Gaza for now and that rocket fire into Israel and air strikes in Gaza appeared to reduce yesterday. The Independent includes snap-shot opinions of Israelis in Jerusalem who are largely satisfied with the government’s handling of the conflict until now and are divided on the wisdom of a ground incursion.

The Financial Times, Daily Mail and Daily Mirror all report that Israel yesterday shot down a drone launched by Hamas near the southern port city of Ashdod. Hamas claimed to have launched two more drones, collecting intelligence on Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Independent and Independent i both include a feature on the social media battleground during the current conflict, with both sides determined to broadcast their message.

The Evening Standard emphasises that more than 170 Palestinians in Gaza are now thought to have died in the violence of the past week. An editorial calls for an end to the conflict. The Telegraph says that a United Nations agency estimates that four out of every five casualties in Gaza are civilians. In the Guardian, Peter Beaumont provides an eye-witness account of the impact of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza civilians, while Kim Sengupta in the Independent reports from the northern Gaza Strip where some Palestinians are returning home having initially left following warnings of an imminent Israeli strike in the area.

The Daily Express, Sun, Daily Star and the online edition of the Guardian all report that 27 British nationals have left the Gaza Strip to escape the violence, crossing the border into Israel and then onto Jordan.

Metro, Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian all say that three Jewish Israeli extremists, who were arrested on suspicion of murdering Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khedir have confessed to the killing. Their identities have not yet been revealed, but the murder is thought to have been an act of revenge for the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenage boys. The killing of Abu Khedir sparked days of violence across Israel and the West Bank.

The Israeli media this morning is dominated by speculation over an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. Yediot Ahronot says that a cessation of hostilities is “in the offing” while Israel Hayom says a deal is “on the way.” Haaretz headlines discussion of the proposal by the Security Cabinet and Makor Rishon says that the forum is expected to approve the ceasefire. Maariv warns that if Hamas continues to fire on Israel following an agreement, then Israel will increase its military response, an assessment also offered by Alex Fishman in Yediot Ahronot. Israel Radio news reports this morning that the military wing of Hamas has rejected the Egyptian proposal.

In discussion of a possible ceasefire, Ben Caspit in Maariv suggests that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “torn inside,” as he “has to be able to present an achievement” as a result of Operation Protective Edge, although a tangible result “would require an incursion into Gaza that would last many dangerous days.” In Israel Hayom, Dan Margalit says that Hamas has been dealt a painful, possibly mortal blow during the current round of fighting. However, writing in Yediot Ahronot, Shimon Shiffer disagrees saying that suggestions Hamas has been “weakened, damaged, and lacks a victory image—are without basis.”