The continued tension in both the Gaza region and in Jerusalem is covered widely by this morning’s dailies. The Financial Times refers to an “escalating conflict on two fronts,” reporting that Israel has bolstered its military presence on the Gaza border as rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on southern Israel continued yesterday. Israeli officials emphasised that the troop movements were a defensive measure and called for quiet from Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip. The deployment is also reported by the Guardian, Daily Mail and Metro.

At the same time, the Times, Independent, Evening Standard and Independent i all focus on the continuing clashes yesterday between local Palestinian residents and Israeli forces in East Jerusalem. The unrest follows the murder of a Palestinian teenager two days ago, which many fear was an act of revenge after three Israeli teenagers were recently kidnapped and murdered. The Telegraph and Guardian both report that the family of the murdered Palestinian youth claim that CCTV footage from a nearby shop shows the abduction taking place.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times notes that Israel’s Attorney-General has ordered an investigation of incitement on Israeli social media in the current highly-charged atmosphere. The Times says that Israel’s army has arrested several soldiers who posted calls for revenge for the killing of the Israeli teenagers.

The Independent includes an editorial which outlines the potential for an increase in violence and unrest between Israel and the Palestinians, commenting that the “outlook could scarcely be more depressing.”

Elsewhere, the Guardian and the online edition of the Financial Times both report that the president of the Kurdish semi-autonomous regional government in Iraq has called for preparations to be made for a referendum on independence. The authority of the Iraqi government has been significantly undermined after Sunni Jihadist group ISIS recently made sweeping military gains in Iraq. The Financial Times online notes that earlier this week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed Kurdish independence. Meanwhile, the Times online says that ISIS sleeper cells are waiting to spring into action in Baghdad. The Telegraph online reports that ISIS has taken control of al-Omar, Syria’s largest oil field.

The Israeli media this morning focuses on the growing tensions and violence in the Gaza region and in East Jerusalem. Israel Radio news says that Israeli police are deploying in increased numbers in Jerusalem today, with two potential flashpoints expected. One is the funeral of the Palestinian teenager murdered this week, which is expected to take place this afternoon, the other is the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Maariv’s front page headline “Preparing for action” and Yediot Ahronot’s similar “Escalation alert” refer to both the situation in Jerusalem and the tension on the Gaza border. Maariv says that southern Israel is under fire, having faced a barrage of rockets during yesterday. Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot say that Israel has issued Hamas with a 48-hour ultimatum to stop the attacks or face a military response. Israel Hayom leads with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning to that effect, saying “If fire continues, we’ll use force.”

In Yediot Ahronot, Yossi Yehoshua says that Israel is not keen to face the diplomatic consequences of military action in Gaza, but that it will face little choice if rocket fire causes any Israeli casualties. On the Channel Ten website, Alon Ben David says that Israel’s leaders understand that action in Gaza will lead to rocket fire on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, if rockets continue to rain down on southern Israel, such action may happen anyway.