As Operation Pillar of Defence enters its sixth day, all dailies focus on the number of Palestinian deaths, and the intense international pressure to direct the parties towards a ceasefire rather than escalation. The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Daily Mirror and Daily Star report that Palestinian deaths reached 111 by Tuesday morning. Headlines do not distinguish between Hamas militants and civilian casualties.

The Independent reports on the IDF claim that it has hit over 1400 targets since the start of the operation, including individual militants, weapons storage, production facilities and smuggling tunnels. The Evening Standard reports on widespread Israeli support for the operation, but also a growing groundswell of opinion among former generals as well as opposition critics, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to send ground troops into Gaza. The Guardian reprints a Haaretz opinion poll that shows public support for a ground invasion.

The Times and Metro London reports that the al-Shorouq building, which is used by international and Palestinian media, was targeted for the second time in one of 80 Israeli airstrikes carried out overnight Monday. Ramez Harb, a senior figure of Islamic Jihad’s militant wing, the al-Quds Brigades was killed in the strike.

The Telegraph reports that the al-Nasser Salah al-Deen brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the group held responsible for kidnapping Gilad Shalit, and partly responsible for sparking the latest Israeli action, have claimed that it still has 99 per cent of its rockets intact and that all rival militant factions on the strip have united for the first time.

The Guardian, Evening Standard, Financial Times and Independent i report on the diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, with Ban Ki Moon’s public appeal for a truce at the start of his visit to the region. These dailies also note the central role of Egypt, as Turkish and Qatari officials arrive in Cairo to help mediate the talks between Israel and Hamas, and the UK and USA vocally supporting Egyptian involvement.  The Telegraph describes the growing pressure towards a ceasefire, including a statement agreed by EU foreign ministers condemning civilian losses on both sides and reiterating Israel’s ‘right to defend itself,’ but also urging Israel ‘to act proportionately and ensure the protection of civilians at all times.’ The Financial Times reports a senior official in Cairo who relays that a two-stage ceasefire is being discussed.

The Financial Times features an analysis of the impact of the conflict on the Gazan economy.  The Guardian reports in detail on the Iron Dome’s success at protecting Tel Aviv, and mentions a similar technology designed to protect against missiles from Iran, called David’s Sling.  The Guardian includes an oped by Israel’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, Danny Ayalon, who blames Hamas and its genocidal policy towards Jews for the violence between Gaza and Israel.  Hugo Rifkind in the Times comments on the growing levels of anti-Semitism within the debate over the conflict. The Times reports that NATO is considering a request from Turkey to deploy anti-missile batteries along its border with Syria.

The Israeli media widely reports the ongoing barrages of rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns in the south, the damage caused yesterday and today, and the number of Iron Dome interceptions. Yedioth Ahronoth reports that, according to figures compiled by the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the past 24 hours saw a drop of in the number of rockets fired at Israel – 151 compared to 245 in the previous day of fighting.  There has also apparently been a significant drop mainly in the number of rockets fired to a range of 25-45 kilometers from Gaza. Yedioth Ahronoth also analyses the volatile situation whereby Hamas is making difficult demands in the ceasefire negotiations, as it knows that Israeli does not want to launch a ground operation.

Maariv reports claims that the Fajr 5 missile supply in Gaza is said to be nearly depleted.  Makor Rishon reports that Netanyahu has agreed to give talks another 24 hours before launching a ground operation. Israel Hayom reflects the two possible directions in the coming days, with reports on the political parties preparing to resume campaigning (if the operation ends), in addition to articles on the ongoing military strikes and preparations for escalation.

Israeli radio reports that sirens and rockets continued throughout the night, in Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Sderot, the Beer Tuvia Regional Council, the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and the Eshkol Regional Council. In addition, before midnight last night, at least five rockets were fired at the Beer Sheva area.

Israeli radio reports that US President Barack Obama spoke separately by phone last night with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and discussed the efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement.  Israeli Radio also reported that IDF soldiers killed a Palestinian man last night during a riot on the Haloul bridge near Hebron. The IDF said that he was killed after approaching one of the soldiers with a suspicious object in his hand.  Haaretz has announced a surprise visit by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to discuss the Gaza operation.