Yesterday’s developments in the hostilities between Israel and Hamas are widely covered. The Independent, Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent i, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Evening Standard and Metro all report that Israel’s Security Cabinet approved an Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire yesterday morning and ceased air strikes, but that Hamas rejected the initiative and continued to fire rockets at Israel. As a result, Israeli air operations in Gaza resumed six hours later with the Times noting that, “Hamas routinely situates its munitions in residential areas.” All coverage also highlights that an Israeli civilian was killed while distributing food to soldiers near the Gaza border, after he was struck by mortar fire. The Telegraph online this morning says that Israeli air strikes last night targeted the home of senior Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar.

The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont provides an eye-witness account of yesterday’s developments from Gaza, recording the views of residents who hope for peace although many apparently want Hamas’s conditions to be met as part of a ceasefire. The Independent’s Kim Sengupta provides a similar insight from Gaza.

The Independent also includes an op-ed by Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub, who emphasises that Israel has done everything possible to avoid confrontation in Gaza. He also outlines a divide in Gaza between the life of Palestinian people over ground who are being held hostage by the terror tunnels, rockets and Hamas leadership which are well hidden underground.

In the Times, Roger Boyes advocates a long-term vision of a prosperous Gaza Strip, which he says Israel must find a way of helping work towards. In the Financial Times, John Reed says that Hamas is in fact being strengthened by the current conflict, as its popularity as a perceived resistance movement increases despite the significant civilian toll.

In other regional news, the Times reports that potential progress is being made in the talks between representatives of the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iranian officials over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran’s Foreign Minister is quoted saying that “headway” has been made. The Guardian online suggests that Iran has offered to freeze its enrichment capacity for seven years.

The Israeli media is dominated by yesterday’s developments in the conflict with Hamas. Yediot Ahronot and Maariv both lead with the same headline, “Fire without cease,” reflecting Hamas’s rejection of Egypt’s proposed ceasefire and continued firing of rockets on Israel. Israel Hayom has a similar front page headline, while Makor Rishon leads with the death yesterday of 37-year-old Dror Kheinin. Kheinin’s death is also a major story in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom and Haaretz, which leads with the IDF’s advisory to northern Gaza residents to leave their homes for their own safety in advance of possible expanded Israeli military action.

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot, Makor Rishon and Israel Hayom all focus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to sack Deputy Defence Minister Danny Danon following Danon’s sharp criticism over Netanyahu’s approval of the ceasefire and general handling of the conflict. Danon is considered a firebrand leader of the Likud Party’s right-wing.

In commentary on Operation Protective Edge, Yoav Limor in Israel Hayom and Ben Caspit in Maariv both say that Israel’s acceptance of the Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire hands it an advantage. Caspit comments that the Security Cabinet’s approval of the truce gives Israel “renewed credit, including credit to expand the operation.” In Yediot Ahronot though, Nahum Barnea is highly critical of the government’s stance, saying that yesterday “was not a good day because the initiative and the decision about what happens in the fighting shifted mainly to Hamas.” He adds, “The impression was that Israel was being dragged, with no end date, no strategy, no one in charge.”