Israel
Mediators seek a new deal to release more than half of the hostages in Gaza
President Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is taking part in ceasefire talks in Qatar, the most serious Israel-Hamas talks since Trump took office.
This synagogue calls itself ‘anti-Zionist.’ Here’s what that means in practice
Tzedek Chicago calls itself anti-Zionist congregation, meaning it does not support a Jewish nation-state.
Palestinians freed in the ceasefire say Israeli forces harass them and their families
Several Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed during this ceasefire deal have been harassed by Israeli forces after their release, their homes raided or their family members arrested.
In a policy shift, U.S. and Hamas say they’re in direct talks on hostages
A Hamas official tells NPR that the United States has held direct talks with the Palestinian militant group over the release of several American-Israeli dual citizens taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
Israel’s culture minister calls a Palestinian-Israeli film’s Oscar a ‘sad moment’
The Oscar documentary win by the movie No Other Land is garnering very different reactions in Israel and the West Bank.
Israeli military cites ‘fundamental misunderstanding’ of Hamas ahead of Oct. 7 attack
The report is the Israeli military's first official account of mistakes that preceded the 2023 attack, which launched Israel's subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza that killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.
Hamas returns bodies of four hostages and Israel releases hundreds of Palestinians
Both sides agreed there would be no Hamas ceremonies for the hostage bodies and in exchange Israel would release the Palestinian detainees and prisoners whose freedom had been held up since Saturday.
Israelis hold a mass funeral for Shiri Bibas and her two sons killed in Gaza
Crowds gathered in Israel for the funeral procession of the Bibas family, a mother and two young sons killed while being held hostage in Gaza. The story of their killing has enraged Israelis, and Israeli government representatives were not invited to the funeral.
Israel says body returned by Hamas not that of hostage
Israel identified the remains of child hostages but said another body from Hamas was not their mother as claimed. And near Tel Aviv, explosions hit threes buses, but no injuries were reported.
Hamas releases the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including mother and young sons
Today's release is the first time Hamas has handed over the bodies of hostages during the war, although several have been recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza and returned to Israel.
Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and Ukraine war
After meetings in Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to push President Trump's plan for Gaza and to meet with Russian counterparts on steps to ending the war in Ukraine.
Jordan’s military is test-running an air bridge for aid to Gaza
NPR traveled with Jordan's military on a recent helicopter flight delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, part of a test program since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect last month.
The next Israeli hostages Hamas will release include U.S. and Russian nationals
Hamas says it will release three hostages on Saturday, resolving a dispute with Israel that threatened to derail the ceasefire. In exchange, Israel will free dozens of Palestinians from jail.
Hamas says it will release hostages as scheduled this weekend
Israel threatened Tuesday to resume hostilities with Hamas in Gaza unless the militant group releases hostages under the ceasefire agreement.
Jordan’s King Abdullah heads to the White House as Trump pushes a Gaza takeover plan
It is expected to be one of the toughest meetings of the king's quarter-century reign.
Hamas says it’s delaying the next Israeli hostage release
A Hamas spokesman said it's postponing the release of the next group of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of preventing Palestinians from returning home in Gaza.
3 Israeli hostages freed for Palestinian detainees and prisoners
The exchanges are part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Israel defense minister tells army to prepare to relocate Palestinians from Gaza
He says the military should prepare exit options by land, sea and air so that anyone who wishes to can leave for "any country willing to accept them."
A brief history of Gaza’s tortured role in the Middle East conflict
Most Gaza residents are the descendants of Palestinian refugees driven to the enclave in a 1948 war. They harbor a deep fear of being uprooted again, and President Trump's remarks struck a raw nerve.
Trump has a deal for Netanyahu when they meet Tuesday. Will he take it?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to visit the White House since President Trump's return to office, in a crucial meeting for the future of the Middle East.
A U.S. dual citizen is among 3 Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners
Siegel is the first American to be released as part of this deal. A total of 18 hostages have been released since the ceasefire took effect. Hundreds Palestinians have been released so far.
3 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages freed in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
The exchange is part of a deal between Israel and Hamas that will see a total of 33 hostages returned to Israel in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Trump’s Mideast envoy visits Gaza before meeting with Netanyahu
Steve Witkoff helped negotiate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. His visit to Gaza on Wednesday was the first by a senior U.S. official in more than a decade.
Palestinians in Gaza return to find their city in ruins after Israeli troops withdraw
With a ceasefire agreement pausing the war between Israel and Hamas, Israeli troops have withdrawn from Gaza city centers. For the first time in eight months, NPR got a glimpse of Rafah this week.
As Israeli troops exit Lebanon, villagers hope to return home — or what’s left of it
Israel is slowly withdrawing from Lebanese villages it occupied, as part of a ceasefire deal. Lebanese residents waiting to return to their villages say the Israeli military has destroyed nearly everything.
Hamas has named the next 4 hostages it will release as part of ceasefire with Israel
All four hostages are female Israeli soldiers. They are expected to be released Saturday in accordance with a ceasefire agreement with Israel that's halted fighting in the Gaza war since last weekend.
Another casualty of Israel’s war in Lebanon: Efforts to save endangered turtles
Lebanese volunteers are anxious to get back to sea turtle conservation on southern beaches that were off-limits to civilians when fighting escalated between Israel and Hezbollah.
33 hostages are expected to be released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire with Israel
There are men, women and children on the list of 33 to be released from Gaza. Two are U.S. citizens. Israel is set to free hundreds of prisoners in exchange for them.
These are the U.S. citizens held hostage in Gaza
Seven of the nearly 100 hostages held in Gaza are U.S. citizens, several of whom are confirmed dead.
Israel’s security cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Israel's security cabinet has voted to approve a ceasefire deal to end the fighting in Gaza. Full cabinet approval is expected later today.
How the Gaza war has remade the Middle East
What began as a battle between Israel and Hamas morphed into a much wider regional conflict that has reshaped much of the Middle East.
Netanyahu delays ceasefire vote, claiming Hamas created a ‘last minute crisis’
The deal was set to be ratified by Israeli Cabinet on Thursday. But Netanyahu says, without specifying, that Hamas has gone back on several parts of the ceasefire agreement at the last minute.
