The Times and the online edition of the Telegraph cover reports which claim that former-Prime Minister Tony Blair is acting as a go-between in an attempt to broker a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Arabic media has reported that Blair recently met twice with Hamas’s political chief Khaled Mashaal. However, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office on Monday issued a statement denying that any negotiations were underway with Hamas.

The Guardian online reports that hunger-striking Islamic Jihad member Mohammed Allan, who is hospitalized in Israel, has emerged from a coma and pledged to continue his refusal to eat until he is released. Allan is protesting being held under administrative detention. Israeli authorities are determined not to free the suspected terrorist while also preventing his death.

The Guardian online says that bulldozers are clearing an area in preparation for construction of the security barrier in a controversial location near Bethlehem. An Israeli court ruled against the construction in April, but the report says Israel’s Defence Ministry is nonetheless looking to lay groundwork for building the fence.

The Guardian online also reports the visit to Israel of Republican US presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. In particular, Huckabee held a press event in the West Bank settlement of Shiloh and encouraged everyone to visit “all of Israel” including the West Bank.

The Metro reports that Iran will purchase four S-300 anti-missile systems from Russia. The hardware is considered a significant upgrade for Iranian forces, helping guard against air attack. The Guardian online covers the announcement by Democratic US Senator Robert Menendez that he will vote against the nuclear agreement with Iran. US Congress will vote on the deal next month, with the White House lobbying hard for the accord’s approval. Meanwhile, the Independent online says that Tehran is making diplomatic moves to join a largely Sunni alliance against ISIS, in what is described as a “significant” Iranian foreign policy shift.

In the Independent, Robert Fisk says that the Assad regime’s fierce attack on the suburb of Douma, which has seen more than 100 civilians killed, is in effect a warning to rebels against seriously threatening the capital Damascus. Elsewhere in Syria, the Times and online edition of the Telegraph both report that ISIS has beheaded the 82-year-old chief archaeologist of Palmyra and hung his body from one of the city’s famous Roman-era columns.

In the Israeli media, Israel Hayom leads with a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon to Israel’s northern border, where Netanyahu warned specifically against Iran’s backing for regional terror groups. He said, “The IDF is a strong army, the State of Israel is strong and we are prepared for any scenario. We will hurt anyone who tries to hurt us.” In Yediot Ahronot, military affairs correspondent Alex Fishman implies criticism of Netanyahu, saying that, “There are moments when it seems that there are a few people on our side who wouldn’t object if a few rockets were to make their way here from Lebanon or Syria, if the border were to heat up a bit … provided that this could be pinned on the Iranians so as to prove to the world just how dangerous the Iranian threat to the region is.”

Maariv’s top story though underlines Israeli concerns at Russia’s sale of the S-300 anti-missile system to Iran, which will significantly improve Tehran’s military capability. Yediot Ahronot also leads with the same item, highlighting the danger of a “weapons flow” to Iran in the wake of the recent nuclear deal, with sanctions being lifted as part of the agreement.

Israel Radio news says that four Israelis and one Palestinian were injured yesterday in Jerusalem as they travelled on a bus through an Arab neighbourhood of the city. The bus was pelted with rocks and the injured passengers were treated at the scene.