The Times, i, Daily Express, the online edition of the Guardian and the Independent report that Israel’s former President Shimon Peres is in a serious condition in hospital having suffered a major stroke yesterday. The 93-year-old Nobel laureate is considered Israel’s elder statesman, having served as prime minister and in numerous government roles during a lengthy career of public service.

The online editions of the Guardian, Financial Times and Telegraph report that the US and Israel have finally agreed a new ten-year military aid package worth almost £29bn. The current deal expires next year and talks over a new agreement, described as the largest military aid package ever agreed by Washington, have been protracted over the past several months. A signing ceremony is expected to take place in Washington today.

The online editions of the Financial Times and the Independent report that Israel has denied the Syrian government’s claim yesterday that it shot down an Israeli plane over the Syrian border town of Quneitra. In the latest of several such incidents this week, Syrian mortar fire from the country’s civil war spilled over into Israeli territory yesterday, prompting Israel to return fire on Syrian army positions. Three mortars landed in Israel yesterday, more in a single day than at any point in recent months.

The i and Independent report that the ceasefire in Syria, brokered last weekend by the US and Russia, is holding but that violence is “never far away”. The Guardian online says the UN has complained that the Bashar al-Assad regime is blocking 20 trucks of aid from reaching eastern Aleppo.

The Financial Times includes a feature on Israeli technology being increasingly used in the car industry. Global giants such as Ford and General Motors are apparently turning to Israeli companies to integrate new features into their models.

In the Israeli media, all dailies are dominated by the hospitalisation of Shimon Peres. It is the top story in Haaretz, Maariv, whilst Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom both lead with the identical headline “Fighting for his life”. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, commentator Nahum Barnea describes how Israelis took Peres to their hearts during his time as President between 2007 and 2014. Barnea writes: “In his people’s eyes he ceased to be a politician. He became an historic figure, larger than politics, larger than everyday affairs, a figure in a league of his own.”

Another major item is tension on the Syrian border. Maariv, Haaretz and Israel Hayom report that Syria forces fired at Israeli jets yesterday. Three Syrian mortars also landed on the Israeli Golan Heights, prompting the IDF to return fire at artillery positions. It is thought that the mortars are errant fire from the Syrian civil war, but such incidents have occurred almost every day during the past week. Israel Radio reports that the IDF said it will not tolerate any attempt to challenge Israel’s sovereignty and that it holds the al-Assad regime responsible for fire emanating from territory nominally under its control.

Israel Hayom and Israel Radio report that an agreement will finally be signed today to finalise a new US military aid package to Israel. Israel Radio news covers comments by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who said that Israel should be proud of the deal and expressed gratitude to the US and the Obama administration.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports comments by Lior Lotan, the Israeli official who oversees efforts regarding prisoners and missing people, who said that Hamas has rejected two deals for the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and three Israeli citizens being held in Gaza.