The Times reports that several rockets were fired yesterday from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, one targeting an Israeli border patrol, the remainder triggering rocket warnings in civilian communities. No injuries or damage was reported. The article says Israel responded with air strikes in Gaza on targets controlled by Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since violently removing Fatah from power in 2007.

The Financial Times says Israeli silence on the crisis in Ukraine threatens to strain relations between Israel and the United States, which have already been put to the test over peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and Iran’s nuclear development. Meanwhile, the online edition of the Guardian says the US Supreme Court will consider a challenge to a ruling which does not permit the passport of a US citizen born in Jerusalem to state that the holder was born in Israel.

The Guardian and online editions of the Telegraph and Independent, report that Syria’s parliamentary speaker announced yesterday that a presidential election will take place on 3 June. All reports say that the announcement is a sign of President Assad’s growing confidence following three years of civil war and that the vote will exclude his opponents. The Financial Times says the United States is investigating claims that Assad’s forces recently used crude chemical weapons in civilian areas.

The Times covers accusations that the Iranian authorities are increasingly allowing families of murder victims to decide the fate of those sentenced to death, in an attempt to sidestep criticism by human rights groups over widespread official sanctioning of the death penalty.

In the Israeli media, the main item is yesterday’s warning by US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki that the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which PA President Mahmoud Abbas is said to be considering, would have “grave implications” on US-Palestinian relations. Writing in Israel Hayom, Dan Margalit says that the prospect of the PA’s dissolution is an “empty threat” designed to pressure Israel into concessions ahead of the 29 April deadline on peace talks. Yediot Ahronot reports that there are differing opinions among Israeli and Palestinian officials over the potential impact of dissolving the PA. The story is also a major item in Haaretz and Israel Radio news.

Meanwhile, Maariv and Yediot Ahronot highlight a barrage of at least seven rockets which was fired yesterday from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, prompting an Israeli Air Force air strike on Hamas targets in Gaza. Maariv also focuses on comments made by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who warned that Israel will know how to deal with the threat if rocket fire from Gaza continues.

Haaretz reports on continued clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel Radio news says that Israel’s ambassador to Jordan was summoned by the Jordanian foreign ministry to protest Israeli actions at the Temple Mount to quell the violence, which it claims violates the peace treaty between the two countries.