BBC News reports that the firing of rockets by Palestinian terror groups towards Israel during the May conflict, amounted to war crimes. Following an investigation, Human Rights Watch said that the 4,360 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip that killed 13 civilians were a flagrant violation of the laws of war. The report also noted that some of the rockets fell short of Israel and killed Palestinians in Gaza.

An investigation from BBC News examines the crime wave sweeping Israel’s Arab communities. The report notes that “Israel’s Arab minority accounts for about one-fifth of the population, but in recent years it has experienced the vast majority of the country’s murders. In 2020, 97 Arab citizens were killed, compared to less than half of that in the Jewish community… Most victims are young men but increasingly others are caught up in a violent crime wave linked to illegal guns, family feuds and organised gangs.”

The Guardian reports that Israel is preparing plans for 2,000 housing units for settlers in the West Bank. Defense Minister Benny Gantz said a committee is expected to meet in the coming week to approve the housing units, as well as 1,000 additional housing units for Palestinians living in Area C. The paper notes that the “Palestinian construction in Area C is the largest in years, after several other Israeli-promoted projects stalled.”

The Financial Times reports of the appointment of Iran’s new foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. Amirabdollahian is a hardliner with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and it is expected that he will wield more influence over Iranian foreign policy than his predecessor, Mohammad Javad Zarif. The paper notes that “Iranian analysts are optimistic that Amirabdollahian — a 57-year-old graduate of Iran’s universities who comes from a humble background — may be able to revive the deal and achieve more lasting diplomatic results. They say his connections to the powerful hardline factions at the heart of the regime will give him greater domestic influence than Zarif, who by his own admission was often undermined by the Revolutionary Guards.”

BBC News, The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian report on a photograph taken of the British and Russian ambassadors to Tehran, which has angered Iran. The photograph was a recreation of an image of Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin outside the Russian embassy in Tehran while the country was still under Soviet and British occupation. Iran’s foreign minister called the image “extremely inappropriate.”

The Telegraph reports that Qatar is coming under increased scrutiny over its human rights policies as the country prepares to host the World Cup in 2022. The paper notes that Qatar said rainbow flags can be displayed at stadiums during the tournament, but that the country’s “discriminatory policies towards its LGBT+ population have become relatively well-known.. Same-sex relations are illegal and carry a punishment of several years in jail. A conservative, religious, authoritarian state which applies Sharia law, theoretically Qatar could apply the death penalty for homosexuality, although no such punishment has been recorded.”

The Times reports on the raging wildfires sweeping across Turkey’s Marmaris peninsula. The paper notes that the “Failure to deploy soldiers to tackle blazes shows how, fire years after an attempted coup, the distrustful Turkish president has left his country’s once-great institutions hollowed out and incapable.”

All the Israeli media continue to cover the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. The latest data from the Health Ministry shows that 5,300 people tested positive and that the number of people hospitalised in critical condition has risen to 447. Polling from Israel Hayom shows that the majority of Israelis believe that another lockdown would be a failure by the government. Less than 50 per cent of those polled believe a lockdown would be the right thing to do over the Jewish holidays, while 67 per cent have indicated concern about the rising number of cases.

Kan Radio News reports that beginning today people 50 and older will be able to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Prime Minister Bennett called on those who are eligible to get vaccinated because it will save lives. He added that there are enough vaccines for everyone and that “victory over the pandemic is in our hands.”

Maariv includes as interview with Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, where he says, “We will do everything possible to avert a lockdown, if necessary, we will increase home care, we will increase hospital capacity, we will increase doctor and nurse positions, we will do everything. In addition to the two billion in the budget, we have given it another two billion. These are huge sums. We have to learn to live with the coronavirus. It’s not about to go away. Just like we learned to live with the flu.”

All the Israeli media report on the downing of a Hezbollah drone by the IDF on Wednesday. The drone was monitored as it crossed into Israeli airspace and brought down near Moshav Shtula. News of the incident was made public a day after the drone was downed. These incursions are typically seen every couple of months. In a statement, the IDF said it would “continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty.” The IDF retaliated by striking a number of targets in southern Lebanon.

Sima Kadmon writes for Yediot Ahronot about the comments made by Ayelet Shaked that were met with backlash. Kadmon writes: “It must be stated in the clearest possible way: the people who do not get vaccinated share responsibility for the thousands of people who are liable to die here by October. I told the truth, says Shaked. Perhaps her phrasing wasn’t the best, but it’s hard not to hear in her voice that she stands behind this truth as well as her phrasing. We can criticise Shaked for what she says, but at least she speaks up, which also counts for something in a government in which more ministers have not mobilised in the public information campaign.”

Israel Hayom reports that US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in which the two discussed Israeli security and climate change. Their conversation focused on water scarcity and wildfires. According to a White House readout of the call Harries reiterated the US’s commitment to a two state solution, which would advance “freedom, security, dignity and opportunity for people on both sides.”a