Coverage continues of claims by a cyber-security firm that a state, which they heavily implied is Israel, hacked the systems of three luxury hotels hosting negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) in order to spy on the talks. The online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph both highlight a statement from Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, who yesterday called the allegations “baseless.” The Independent i reports that Swiss authorities already launched an investigation into the claims last month, searching a home in Geneva. The Guardian online says that Austrian officials have followed suit.

Both the Guardian online and the Telegraph online report that the IDF has concluded its investigation into the deaths of four children on a Gaza beach last summer, who were struck by incoming Israeli missiles during Operation Protective Edge. The probe concluded a “tragic accident” and outlines the detailed investigation which found that Israeli forces believed they were targeting a Hamas naval compound.

The Times notes that the Quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) has decided that it will not seek a replacement for former-Prime Minister Tony Blair as Middle East envoy. Blair recently stood down from the role.

In the Guardian online, Ian Black provides a detailed summary and analysis from this week’s Herzliya Conference, a major policy gathering. He highlights Israel’s strategically strong position in light of the chaos in the region.

In the Financial Times, Philip Stephens argues that a UN Security Council resolution is needed as a catalyst towards re-starting peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He says that a fresh motion would give “renewed force” to peace efforts, especially as Washington cannot “carry the process alone” anymore.

The Telegraph online includes a feature on a 23-year-old Arab Israeli drag queen, who was forced to leave home following discrimination and threats and has found refuge in Tel Aviv. The city will today host one of the world’s largest gay pride parades.

In Syria, the Guardian says that President Assad’s forces have been forced back on numerous fronts, by a Western-backed force in the south, ISIS in Palmyra and the al-Nusra Front in Idlib province. The report speculates that Assad may look to cut his losses and defend limited territory. The Independent online says that al-Nusra has killed at least 20 Druze in Idlib province, the first major targeting of the minority group during the country’s civil war.

In the Israeli media, both Maariv and Israel Hayom highlight a rocket which was launched yesterday evening from the Gaza Strip at Israel. It appears that the rocket fell short of its target and landed in Gaza. However, it is the fourth such incident in recent weeks, with a Salafist organisation loyal towards ISIS having taken responsibility for the previous attacks. The group has made clear that its attacks serve the dual purpose of targeting Israelis and opposing the Hamas regime.

Yediot Ahronot covers comments made by Likud’s Culture Minister Miri Regev, who apparently insisted in a meeting with cultural institutions yesterday that she will decide where money is allocated, having threatened to pull funding from a theatre group whose director refused to perform in the West Bank. However, Haaretz says that Regev’s Likud ministerial colleague, Gila Gamliel criticised Regev’s rhetoric saying that such decisions would simply punish children involved in such groups.

Maariv continues to focus on the allegations against new Likud MK Oren Hazan, accused of having run a casino in Bulgaria at which he supplied prostitutes for clients and took hard drugs. A poll found that 69 per cent of the public believe the claims and 52 per cent believe Hazan should suspend himself.