The Financial Times includes a feature focusing on the re-arming and military preparations being made by Palestinian terror groups in anticipation of another conflict with Israel. Describing the “uneasy peace” in the area, the article also reports that a rocket from Gaza was fired into southern Israel yesterday evening, prompting Israel’s army to respond by striking a strategic target within the Gaza Strip.

The Independent and Independent i both say that more than 500 academics, including five Nobel laureates have signed a letter of protest addressed to the editor of The Lancet medical journal, in protest at its coverage of last summer’s Operation Protective Edge. The signatories accuse the editor of “grossly irresponsible misuse [of the journal] for political purposes,” in its scathing criticism of Israel.

In the Guardian, Peter Beaumont analyses what he says is a growing Middle East arms race, being fuelled on the one side by Sunni Gulf states purchasing arms from the US, UK and Canada and on the other side, Russia selling weapons to Iran. Apparently, arms sales to the region will exceed £10 billion this year.

In the Israeli media, yesterday’s Independence Day celebrations take centre stage, with a review of the festivities the top story in Maariv and also commanding several pages in Israel Hayom. Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz and Israel Hayom all focus on Independence Day, but combine their coverage with reporting a Gaza rocket which was fired yesterday evening into southern Israel. The rocket caused no injuries or damage. Israel Radio news reports that most likely a group opposing Hamas’s rule was responsible for the rocket attack and that Hamas itself has no immediate interest in inflaming the situation.

Meanwhile, several titles report that talks between Likud and other parties to form a coalition will resume in earnest today. Yediot Ahronot says that Likud is expected to sign agreements with Kulanu and United Torah Judaism early next week and that Likud leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will today meet Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett. Israel Radio news reports that Likud and Shas representatives will meet today. Meanwhile, Israel Hayom says that the battle for ministerial portfolios within Likud has begun, with the Education Ministry a particularly sought after prize.