Daniel Estrin

Hamas leader, Yahiya Sinwar, is believed to have masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks and led Hamas negotiations on hostages. NPR's Daniel Estrin questioned him at two press conferences in recent years.

Three rounds of hostage-prisoner exchanges have taken place since Friday --another exchange is expected later Monday. Both sides say they're open to more releases and a longer cease-fire.

For a third day, Hamas released hostages and Israel released Palestinian prisoners. Also, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in Gaza.

A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect early Friday. It sets the stage for the first exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The war began on Oct. 7.

Under a deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day pause in fighting to allow the release of 50 women and children being held by militants in Gaza.

A moment of music from a hotel in Tel Aviv, where a multi-cultural band plays to lift the spirits of displaced Israelis. (Story aired on Weekend Edition Sunday on Nov. 19, 2023.)

A moment of music from a hotel in Tel Aviv, where a multi-cultural band plays to lift the spirits of displaced Israelis.

Satire has found a role amidst the tragedy of the Israel-Hamas war.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City on foot. Israel is giving civilians several hours a day to flee the fighting in northern Gaza.

The Middle East has changed since Oct. 7 — when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. As the death tolls mount, the scope of the conflict is historic.

About 240 Israeli and foreign nationals have been held hostage in Gaza for a month. Many Israelis are calling for Israel to release all Palestinian detainees in exchange for the captives' freedom.

About 240 hostages are being held in Gaza. Their families and many in Israel say they support a prisoner swap: Israel releasing all its Palestinian detainees in exchange for the captives' release.

With Israeli troops advancing through Gaza, relatives of Israelis taken hostage — and more of the public — support the idea of a prisoner swap.

Some people are getting out, while others are left behind. We hear the voices of people in Gaza as Israeli forces advance.

Unlike Hamas, which rules Gaza, the Fatah party favors a peace process with Israel, but is widely seen as weak. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Sabri Saidam of the Fatah Central Committee.

Voice memos recorded by NPR's producer in Gaza during a 34-hour communications blackout convey a weekend of anxiety and uncertainty for Palestinians as Israeli ground troops invaded.

At the same time Israel intensified its assault on Gaza, internet and phone service suddenly dropped. NPR producer in Gaza Anas Baba recounts what he saw during a 34-hour communications blackout.

Israel has expanded air strikes and ground operations in Gaza, knocking out communications for residents there — as the violence spirals nearly three weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel.

Israel's military has escalated operations in Gaza over the past few days. Internet and phone service were out in Gaza after a barrage of airstrikes, a Palestinian telecommunications company reported.

NPR has interviewed neighbors and relatives of one of the attackers and reviewed footage and information the Israeli military says it collected from villages and militants.