The Times reports that fierce fighting continued yesterday in Gaza, especially in the area of Khuzaa. The same report also covers the diplomatic push towards a possible ceasefire, with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Israel yesterday for talks and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond arriving in the country late yesterday. The Independent reports that although there appeared to be no real progress, Kerry said “steps” had been made in advancing a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Telegraph highlights a warning by Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon that Israel’s military is prepared to expand its Gaza operation if necessary.

The Independent, Financial Times and Independent i report that as the Gaza rocket fire on Israel continued yesterday, the American aviation authority and many European airlines continued to suspend flights to Israel. In an editorial, the Evening Standard says that airlines must put safety first, even if that means avoiding Tel Aviv for now.

The Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Financial Times, Metro, Evening Standard and Daily Mirror all cover the claim at yesterday’s United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, that some Israeli actions in Gaza could constitute war crimes and that an international commission of enquiry should be established. However, the Daily Express emphasises that Hamas too was criticised for firing indiscriminately at Israeli civilians. The UNHRC has a track record of persistent focus on and criticism of Israel.

In the Guardian, Peter Beaumont provides an eye-witness account of Gazans returning to homes reduced to rubble following fierce battles. He also notes the presence of Hamas fighters in these residential areas. In the Independent, Kim Sengupta also reports from Gaza on the suffering of local residents and mounting casualties.

In the Times, David Aaronovitch says that it is “Groundhog Day” in Gaza and that the current conflict will only be resolved when both sides “properly know – that the other is never going away.” The Telegraph runs two parallel opinion pieces. Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid says that Israel chooses and protects life while Hamas is happy to choose death for Palestinians, in the knowledge that it will arouse international sympathy. Meanwhile, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat calls on the international community to condition relations with Israel on human rights. An analysis by Roula Khalaf in the Financial Times says that Arab attitudes to Gaza have changed and concern is less apparent than it once was. In part, this is due to other bloody regional conflicts and also because the Arab world is split into two opposing camps with differences are exposed over Gaza.

The Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Times, Daily Mirror, Sun and Evening Standard all report that Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is under pressure to discipline MP David Ward, who tweeted that if he lived in Gaza, he would “probably” fire rockets at Israel. Ward is well-known for his militant anti-Israel stance. The party issued a “categorical apology” but has not yet taken any disciplinary action against Ward, a step urged by both the Sun and Telegraph in respective editorials.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot and Maariv focus on efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Maariv quotes an unnamed senior government official who said that if there were an international mechanism for disarming Hamas, then a ceasefire could be reached. However, Makor Rishon emphasises that the government is also considering expanding the military operation if necessary. In Yediot Ahronot, Yossi Yehoshua says that it will likely take 10 days to two weeks in order to remove the threat of Gaza’s tunnels.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom focuses on the deaths of three more Israeli soldiers yesterday and the deep well of public sympathy towards the fallen soldiers and their families. Its front page headline is “The beautiful Israel.”

The top story in Haaretz is the UNHRC session yesterday which decided to form an international commission of enquiry into Israel’s military conduct in Gaza. Israel Radio news reports that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reacted by referring to the UNHRC as the “terrorist’s rights council.”