The Guardian online this morning reports that Hamas took responsibility for launching a huge barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel yesterday evening, significantly increasing the volume and range of rockets which have been fired in recent weeks. As a result, Israel launched a staged offensive, Operation Protective Edge, which has so far consisted of intense targeted air strikes against Hamas sites in Gaza.

The Daily Mirror, Financial Times and Evening Standard all report yesterday’s news that following a bombardment of Gaza rockets, Israeli air strikes were launched in the Gaza Strip with Hamas claiming several of its activists having been killed. However, the Independent and Independent i both report that the IDF says those killed in Gaza had fallen victim to their own explosives as they investigated a tunnel they had dug which had previously been hit by Israel’s Air Force.

An editorial in the Times praises the restraint demonstrated so far by Israel’s government in the face of the growing tension. It also emphasises the supremacy of rule of law in Israel, in contrast to other countries in the region.

Meanwhile, the Times and Daily Mail both report that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday announced that his Yisrael Beitenu faction has ended its partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party. Although Yisrael Beitenu will remain in the coalition, the move makes Netanyahu’s control over his government more precarious. Lieberman said that he made the decision over the response to rocket attacks from Gaza, although many commentators view it as primarily a political move to garner right-wing support.

The Telegraph and Guardian both report that three Jewish Israeli extremists have apparently admitted to the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khadir last week, as an act of revenge for the murder of three Israeli teenagers, whose bodies were discovered last Monday. The Telegraph notes that Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday telephoned Abu Khadir’s parents to offer his condolences.

The Times and City AM report that Israeli company Orbotech has purchased Welsh high-tech company SPTS for £371million. SPTS manufactures micro components for consumer electronics.

The Telegraph online says that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has told officials that Israel and the United States are playing “good cop, bad cop” over Tehran’s nuclear programme, but that neither can actually prevent Iran from developing its nuclear capacity by force.

The Times online reports that hundreds of Western-backed Syrian rebels have defected and joined Sunni Jihadi group ISIS. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Guardian and Financial Times say that Iraq’s parliament failed to choose a speaker yesterday, further hampering hopes of a unity government.

In the Israeli media, all headlines are focused on the start of Operation Protective Edge in response to the huge burst of Gaza rocket fire yesterday evening. It dominates the opening pages of Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz, Makor Rishon, Maariv and Israel Hayom whose headline summarises “Fire increases as does response.” Commenting on yesterday’s developments, Nahum Barnea writes in Yediot Ahronot that Hamas is acting “out of desperation, because as it sees it, that is the only choice it has left.” Barnea also says that last night’s deluge of rockets forced even the restrained hand shown by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Also in Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman says that even if Hamas were dealt a decisive blow in Gaza, the probable alternative of an anarchic jihadist playground may be even worse.

Israel Radio news reports that rocket fire has continued from Gaza into southern Israel this morning and that Hamas has threatened to increase the range of its fire.

Meanwhile, Makor Rishon and Haaretz both prominently report Avigdor Lieberman’s announcement that his Yisrael Beitenu party is ending its partnership with Netanyahu’s Likud. In Maariv, Ben Caspit notes that just half an hour after the announcement, Lieberman and Netanyahu were sitting together at the security cabinet table cordially discussing developments in Gaza.