The Times, the Guardian, Independent, Independent i, Telegraph and the Evening Standard report on the aftermath of the eight day conflict for the Palestinians, focusing on civilian casualties and Hamas’ boasting of victory.  An analysis by Philip Collins in the Times argues that Palestine needs business not bombs to progress. The Guardian reports the Israeli political leadership’s claim that the operation achieved its aim of restoring calm to the south; while the Independent notes that reservists have not yet been released and remain on high alert on the border. The Daily Telegraph describes the public and political backlash in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agreement to a ceasefire, while the Guardian prints an oped from a left wing Israeli, playwright Joshua Sobol, who is ‘relieved’ that the conflict is over. Robert Fisk in the Independent i opines that Netanyahu’s re-election is more likely following the operation. In the Financial Times, Philip Stephens claims that Israel’s operation was an attempt to scupper any prospect of a two-state accord with the Palestinians, but in an another comment claims that the US and Egypt should now push for a lasting settlement in Gaza between the Palestinians and Israel.

Articles in the Independent, the Telegraph and the Financial Times comment on Egypt’s standing in the West after it brokered the ceasefire. The Times and the Telegraph report on fears that Egyptian President Mursi is capitalising on his success in brokering the Gaza ceasefire with moves to consolidate his power, which critics claim verges on being dictatorial.  A Financial Times article comments that the winners from the recent conflict are Hamas, Mursi and the Iron Dome. The Independent reports its investigation on MPs foreign travel, including what it terms a “Lobbyists’ ‘arms race’” for visits to see the Middle East conflict. The feature details sums that it claims pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, including BICOM, have spent funding UK MPs’ trips to the region. The Independent editorial argues that an MP’s place is in the commons. In analysis on the wider Middle East, the Independent features an academic study that claims that war is on the wane. Ian Black in the Guardian looks at the shrinking role of Syria in the region.

In the Israeli media there is detailed coverage of local reactions to the ceasefire, reports on the sixth Israeli victim of the conflict and the details released for publication of the Tel Aviv bus bomber. Yediot Ahronot reports Shin Bet claims that the man suspected of carrying out the bombing attack on a bus in central Tel Aviv Wednesday was apprehended by Israeli security forces within hours of the attack. Apparently he was an Israeli citizen who previously lived in the West Bank and was allowed to settle in the Arab-Israeli town of Tayibe under the family reunification law.  He was allegedly recruited by a terror cell from the village of Beit Liqya, near Ramallah, to plant the explosive on the bus, which was then detonated by mobile phone. Yediot Ahronot covers the disappointment felt by many residents of southern Israel and reservist troops, at the failure to ‘complete the mission’. It also reports that the number of Israeli fatalities in the operation rose to six yesterday, with the death of a 28-year old reservist, Lt. Boris Yarmulnik, who suffered critical injuries from a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip, and subsequently died of his injuries.

Ma’ariv presents a poll conducted after the end of the operation, which shows that a majority of respondents (49% versus 31%) favored continuing the operation. The poll also indicated that the united Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu list maintains a leading position (37 seats), versus 22 for Labour, 14 for Shas and 9 for Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid list. Israeli Radio reports on speculation that early next week Tzipi Livni will announce that she will contend for the Knesset, heading a new party. Haaretz reports US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s warning to Netanyahu not to punish the Palestinian Authority for its bid for recognition as an observer ‘state’ at the UN.  The Jerusalem Post covers the steps being taken by European diplomats to avert a major confrontation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on this issue, including the possibility of a side letter whereby the PA would commit not to exercise the right of other recognised states to bring actions against Israel to the International Criminal Court.