The i reports that Israel’s Transport Minister Yisrael Katz has suggested the construction of an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip, in order to help ease restrictions on the Hamas-controlled territory. The offshore facility would include a seaport and possibly a future airport, allowing economic independence for Gaza while letting Israel maintain security.

The Times and Metro both report claims by a United Nations (UN) official that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The agreement has yet to be ratified by eight countries including Israel and the United States. Israel has maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither admitting to or denying nuclear capability, although it is widely thought that Israel has had a nuclear programme since the 1950s.

The i also reports that Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz met with Turkey’s President Erdogan on the sidelines of a nuclear security conference in Washington in March, where they discussed the possibility of growing regional cooperation over natural gas resources. Israel has already begun to extract and use natural gas from fields in its territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Guardian online includes a feature by Ian Black on the Olive Tree programme at London’s City University, which provides Israeli and Palestinian students with a unique opportunity to study and live with each other in London. The programme, which has run for several years is now facing financial difficulties. The article outlines the positive impact it has made on participants, including Zionist Union MK Stav Shaffir, who is a graduate of the programme’s first intake.

The Telegraph online says that a counter-attack by ISIS forces in Syria has pushed President Assad’s troops out from the Raqqa Province, an area which government forces had recently taken from ISIS in what was regarded as a significant victory.

The online editions of the Telegraph and Independent both report that Iran’s Intelligence Ministry has announced that “one of the biggest tafkiri-Wahhabi terrorist plots,” including a series of planned bombings in Tehran, has been foiled. Tafkiri-Wahhabi refers to Sunni-based groups, often with origins in Saudi Arabia.

In the Israeli media, the top item in Maariv, also covered prominently in Haaretz is news that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman have both urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign agreement on a new defence aid package with the United States. The protracted talks have apparently been held up by disagreement over the financial amount, specific hardware and percentage which can be spent on Israeli weaponry. Yediot Ahronot quotes an unnamed associate close to Netanyahu, who said: “It is unfortunate that people with very limited experience in negotiations are interfering. This is not wise, not helpful and will have no effect.”

A major item in both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom is the unusual request by the military prosecution, not to reveal the names of witnesses in the trial of Elor Azaria, who is accused of unlawfully killing a Palestinian terrorist, who had been incapacitated after stabbing soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron. The request comes after Azaria’s Company Commander testified against him and was subsequently the subject of threatening abuse via social media.

Israel Radio news reports that three Israelis were lightly wounded yesterday after stones and firebombs were hurled at their cars on the 443 motorway between Modi’in and Jerusalem. Israeli forces in the area opened fire at those responsible, killing one and wounding another.