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Daniel Estrin Daniel Estrin is NPR's international correspondent in Jerusalem.
Daniel Estrin
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Daniel Estrin

Daniel Estrin
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Daniel Estrin
Daniel Estrin
Daniel Estrin

Daniel Estrin

International Correspondent, Jerusalem

Daniel Estrin is NPR's international correspondent in Jerusalem.

Since joining NPR in 2017, he has reported from Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. He has chronicled the Trump administration's policies that have shaped the region, and told stories of everyday life for Israelis and Palestinians. He has also uncovered tales of ancient manuscripts, secret agents and forbidden travel.

He and his team were awarded an Edward R. Murrow award for a 2019 report challenging the U.S. military's account about its raid against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Estrin has reported from the Middle East for over a decade, including seven years with the Associated Press. His reporting has taken him to Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Russia and Ukraine. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Republic, PRI's The World and other media.

Story Archive

Wednesday

Middle East

NPR journalist and a resident of Gaza reflects on what he's seen and experienced

NPR's producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, has been reporting on the war in Gaza for more than 14 months. He reflects on his year of reporting on the war while living through it.

Encore: GAZA REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

Listen · 8:13
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Middle East

Syrian official makes peace overture to Israel. What's the regional impact?

The governor of Damascus faced major backlash in the Arab world for his comments about making peace with Israel. But what do Israelis and Syrians want?

Syrian official makes peace overture to Israel. What's the regional impact?

Listen · 6:29
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Sunday

Asia

Plane crashes and catches fire during landing in South Korea, killing at least 179

A plane carrying 181 people crashed during landing and caught fire in Muan, South Korea, killing most of its passengers. It had issued a Mayday prior to the crash.

Plane crashes and catches fire during landing in South Korea, killing at least 179

Listen · 3:39
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Palestinian artist Tamer Nafar performs during a festival in the town of Sakhnin in northern Israel on Oct. 23, 2016.

Palestinian artist Tamer Nafar performs during a festival in the town of Sakhnin in northern Israel on Oct. 23, 2016. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

The songs Israelis and Palestinians are listening to now, amid war

An Israeli music critic and a Palestinian musician share some songs with NPR's Daniel Estrin — and reflect on more than a year of the war between Israel and Hamas.

2024 saw new Arabic and Hebrew music released in the shadow of war

Listen · 9:53
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Author Interviews

Kate Kennedy's new book tracking 4 cellists is part-detective story, part-memoir

Kate Kennedy tells the tales of 4 cellists and their missing instruments in her new book, "Cello." She talks about them with NPR's Daniel Estrin, who's also a cellist.

Kate Kennedy's new book tracking 4 cellists is part-detective story, part-memoir

Listen · 9:59
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Middle East

Two Israeli soldiers reflect on a year on the frontlines in Gaza

Two Israeli soldiers who served in the war in Gaza this year speak to NPR about how they are wrestling with what they witnessed.

Two Israeli soldiers reflect on a year on the frontlines in Gaza

Listen · 7:06
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Business

2024 saw one of the slowest housing markets in 30 years. What will 2025 bring?

Housing has become one of the country's thorniest issues. We take a look back at the year, and at what 2025 may bring.

2024 saw one of the slowest housing markets in 30 years. What will 2025 bring?

Listen · 4:00
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Politics

Politics chat: What to expect from the 119th Congress ahead of kickoff

A new Congress starts this week, with questions about whether House Speaker Mike Johnson can stay in his job and if GOP in-fighting will be an obstacle as the new Trump administration kicks off.

Politics chat: What to expect from the 119th Congress ahead of kickoff

Listen · 3:28
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Middle East

A snapshot of a year spent reporting and living through war, from NPR's producer in Gaza

NPR's producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, reflects on his year of reporting on the war and living through it.

A snapshot of a year spent reporting and living through war, from NPR's producer in Gaza

Listen · 7:15
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Thursday

A Tour of Gaza's Ancient Sites, Now Lost to War (Encore)

What is left of Pasha's Palace amid Israel's bombardment of Gaza. Historians of Gaza say Napoleon slept there for three nights in 1799. Omar El Qattaa for NPR hide caption

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Omar El Qattaa for NPR

State of the World from NPR

A Tour of Gaza's Ancient Sites, Now Lost to War (Encore)

Among the vast destruction of buildings in Gaza, some historically valuable and irreplaceable sites are now in ruins. In a story we first brought you in February, our correspondent visited some of these places before the war and brings us to them, then and now.

A Tour of Gaza's Ancient Sites, Now Lost to War (Encore)

Listen · 7:18
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Monday

Middle East

A recent strike in Gaza was among the war's deadliest, a list of the victims shows

The U.S. has not received answers from Israel about a deadly October strike in Gaza. A list of 130 victims, given to NPR by survivors, suggests it was one of the most catastrophic strikes of the war.

Listing the Dead in Gaza

Listen · 7:35
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Friday

Middle East

A closer look at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's consequential year

It's been a year for Israel's Netanyahu. He's prosecuted the deadliest war since Israel's creation and become the first sitting prime minister to face trial in a long running corruption investigation.

A closer look at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s consequential year

Listen · 4:49
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Tuesday

Middle East

Netanyahu testifies about allegations of trading favors with media moguls

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended himself in court against corruption charges for allegedly trading favors with media moguls. His trial has lasted for more than four years.

Netanyahu Testifies

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Middle East

A first in Israeli history: a sitting prime minister is testifying as a defendant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking the witness stand in his own corruption trial. Netanyahu repeatedly had asked to delay the trial due to the Gaza war and his leadership duties.

A first in Israeli history: a sitting prime minister is testifying as a defendant

Listen · 3:42
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Sunday

Middle East

Former Israeli defense minister says his country is ethnic cleansing in Gaza

Gaza has been hit by a wave of intense and deadly airstrikes as the region struggles to get enough food. This comes as a former defense minister claims Israel is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Former Israeli defense minister says his country is ethnic cleansing in Gaza

Listen · 2:54
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Saturday

People check a car hit by an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. Five people were reported killed, including three World Central Kitchen workers, Gaza's health ministry said.

People check a car hit by an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. Five people were reported killed, including three World Central Kitchen workers, Gaza's health ministry said. Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says

An Israeli airstrike hit a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing five people, including at least three employees with the food aid charity. World Central Kitchen said that it was "urgently seeking more details."

Tuesday

State of the World from NPR

A Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon that hopes to bring an end to 13 months of fighting which has uprooted masses of civilians on both sides, and left immense destruction. We hear from NPR reporters on both sides of the conflict.

A Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon

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Middle East

Israel agrees to ceasefire with Hezbollah

Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. It will be the first major ceasefire since the wars with Israel Gaza and Lebanon erupted last October.

Israel agrees to ceasefire with Hezbollah

Listen · 5:40
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Friday

The Price Israel and Lebanon are Each Paying for Their War on the Border

Damage to a house in Shtula, a community which has been impacted by barrages of projectiles launched from Lebanon towards Israel, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel on November 3. Violeta Santos Moura/REUTERS hide caption

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Violeta Santos Moura/REUTERS

State of the World from NPR

The Price Israel and Lebanon are Each Paying for Their War on the Border

We bring you views from both sides of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Israel says they're closer to accomplishing their mission of pushing Hezbollah militants away from the border so that tens of thousands of Israelis can safely return to the area. Our correspondent visits the tense borderland and finds a dramatically changed landscape.

The Price Israel and Lebanon are Each Paying for Their War on the Border

Listen · 11:59
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Thursday

Middle East

Israel says it's close to mission accomplished in southern Lebanon

Israeli officials say they're closer to declaring "mission accomplished" in southern Lebanon. They aimed to push Hezbollah militia away from the border so thousands of Israelis can return to the area.

The status of Israel's operation in southern Lebanon

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A foreign worker from Thailand rests after he was evacuated from Metula following a rocket strike from Lebanon, that killed four foreign workers from Thailand and one Israeli citizen on October 31, 2024 in Kfar Yuval, Israel.

A worker from Thailand rests after he was evacuated from Metula following a rocket strike from Lebanon that killed four laborers from Thailand and one Israeli citizen on Oct. 31 in Kfar Yuval, Israel. Amir Levy/Getty Images hide caption

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Amir Levy/Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

In northern Israel, migrant workers are farming while under fire from Hezbollah

Foreign laborers, many from Thailand, are tending fields and livestock in an area Israel has declared off-limits to its own civilians amid ongoing military operations against Hezbollah.

Wednesday

Friday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 27.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 27. Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

How the next U.S. president could change the course of Israel's wars

The U.S. presidential election is already influencing Israel's war strategy. A Trump or Harris presidency could lead to vastly different outcomes for the conflicts there.

How the next president could change the course of Israel's wars

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