The Guardian, Telegraph, Independent and Reuters report that a local political party official has been shot dead by a soldier in southern Beirut, becoming the first casualty of the Lebanese protests. Despite the depth of the political and economic crisis, political leaders have not been able to agree a new cabinet.

BBC News, the Guardian and Reuters report that an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza has come into effect after two days of intense fighting. Egyptian and Palestinian sources said the truce began at 05:30 (03:30 GMT). Israel has not officially commented. Thirty-two Palestinians died in the violence, triggered when Israel killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu Al-Ata.

In the Independent, Bel Trew argues that “Netanyahu’s gamble with Gaza may save his political career but spark a complex drawn-out conflict”.

The Times and Channel 4 News report that President Trump has given Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan his unqualified backing despite his invasion of north-east Syria. Trump hosted Erdogan at the White House and said he was a “big fan” of his guest, who was doing a “fantastic job”.

The Guardian reports that US President Donald Trump has insisted that the US military presence in Syria is “only for the oil”, contradicting his own officials who have insisted that the remaining forces were there to fight IS.

The Independent reports that President Erdogan says he returned a letter to President Trump in which the president told him not to be a “fool” and a “tough guy” before Turkey launched an assault in north-east Syria.

In the Times, Hannah Lucinda Smith argues that President Trump and President Erdogan have much in common: “an unorthodox approach to diplomacy, a theatrical style of politics and a deep reliance on their sons-in-law”.

The Guardian reports that Syrian refugees in Norway have joined a pan-European drive for justice over torture, extra-judicial killings and other abuse, making a landmark request for Norwegian police to investigate atrocities committed during Syria’s long civil war.

The Guardian reports that Turkish investigators have found no evidence of foul play in the death of former British military officer James Le Mesurier, who helped establish the White Helmets, as his body was prepared for repatriation to the UK.

Reuters reports that Houthi militants have fired a missile at the Saudi-led military coalition’s headquarters in Marib during a visit by Yemeni Defence Minister Mohammed al-Maqdishi, killing at least five soldiers.

Reuters reports that Iraqi security forces have killed two protesters and wounded 35 others in Baghdad, as thousands of Iraqis continued a wave of anti-government protests.

In the Independent, Louisa Loveluck writes that the “Iraqi crackdown on protests enters [a] sinister phase of disappearances and espionage.

The Times reports that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi should have been arrested by US forces, prompting criticism by the Conservative Party. Corbyn said that arresting would have been “the right thing to do”.

The Telegraph examines al-Hol detention camp in northern Syria where radicalised IS women have been mobilising friends and family to organise a prison break: “Fears are now growing of a possible escape as the Kurds who operate the camp have been forced to redeploy troops to the border to fight the Turkish invasion into northern Syria”.

Reuters reports that Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has stated that Germany and the Netherlands had agreed to take back German and Dutch IS detainees and their families from Turkey, after Ankara started to repatriate the fighters this week.

The Independent and Reuters report that a suspected IS military leader is on trial in a Hungarian court, accused of terrorism and crimes against humanity.

BBC News, the Telegraph, Independent and Reuters report that Saudi Arabia’s state security agency says a social media post on its account categorising feminism, homosexuality and atheism as dangerous ideas. The security agency says it is investigating the video.

Reuters reports that Russia has accused the US of hunting its citizens and said it had made a formal diplomatic protest after Israel extradited a Russian man to the US where he faces a slew of serious cyber crime charges.

The FT reports that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have agreed to take part in the Arabian Gulf Cup in Qatar, a surprise move that signals a possible thaw in relations after a more than two-year trade and travel boycott of the gas-rich state.

Reuters reports that a fugitive Iranian businessman charged with financial crimes has returned to Iran. The circumstances surrounding the return of Rasoul Danialzadeh, and whether he did so voluntarily, were unclear.

Reuters reports that the US and other Western countries have urged Egypt to investigate alleged killings and torture by its security forces and to release journalists and others arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Reuters reports that a former Afghan official has claimed that the planned exchange of two senior Taliban commanders and a leader of the Haqqani militant group for an American and an Australian has not taken place.

In the Independent, Ahmed Aboudouh writes that “Gulf states tried to turn Iran’s own weapon against it – and it backfired with terrible consequences”.

Haaretz reports that a rocket fired by PIJ hit the offices of the Palestinian Independent Commision for Human Right (ICHR) inside Gaza. The rocket injured one man and caused significant damage to the building.  After the incident the ICHR, and other organisations including Amnesty International, condemned Israel for the attack. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called on Amnesty to withdraw its condemnation of Israel and later in the day Amnesty conceded that “conflicting information is circulating” about where the attack came from and called for an “impartial investigation.”

The Israeli media reports a stormy session in the Knesset focused on the conflict in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “We are making every effort, efforts that no army in the world makes, to try and make surgically precise hits… maximum harm to terrorists, minimum harm to uninvolved people. The operation yesterday will be studied by armies around the world trying to the make this distinction.” He was heckled by knesset members from the Joint List who accused him of war crimes. Ahmad Tibi MK called him a liar and hate monger before the speaker ordered him removed from the chamber. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has six days left to try and form a government. He toured southern towns yesterday supporting the military operation but rejected calls for an emergency coalition Government to be formed.

Channel 12 News reports comments by US President Trump at a fundraising event with Orthodox Jews in New York. Trump claimed he has a 98 per cent approval rating in Israel and joked, “if anything happens here … I’m making a trip over to Israel and I’d be prime minister there very soon.” In a light hearted manner he lamented the Israeli political system asking, “what kind of system is it over there … they keep having elections and nobody is elected.” Regarding the fighting in Gaza, Trump said, “we’re all watching very closely … a lot of missiles going in and out and it’s a very bad day and it’s very scary … we have to take care of Israel.”