Accessibility links
Itay Stern
Stories By

Itay Stern

Story Archive

Monday

Displaced Palestinians, who flee from Rafah amidst ongoing Israeli military operations following Israel's renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip, arrive in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday.

Displaced Palestinians, who flee from Rafah amid ongoing Israeli military operations following Israel's renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip, arrive in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Israel's latest war plans: To occupy Gaza and rule Palestinians

Occupying Gaza and establishing military rule there would go beyond Israel's stated war goals to end Hamas rule and free hostages captured in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Israel weighs plans for a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza

Listen · 3:23
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5337989/nx-s1-5400653-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

From left: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham pose with their Oscar awards for best documentary for the film No Other Land in the press room at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.

From left: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham pose with their Oscar awards for best documentary for the film No Other Land in the press room at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. Mike Coppola/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Oscars 2025

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.

Israel’s culture minister calls a Palestinian-Israeli film’s Oscar a 'sad moment'

Listen · 3:00
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5316043/nx-s1-5379088-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Mourners gather around the convoy carrying the coffins of slain hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, during their funeral procession in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Wednesday.

Mourners gather around the convoy carrying the coffins of slain hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, during their funeral procession in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Wednesday. Ariel Schalit/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Ariel Schalit/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Israelis hold a funeral procession 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.

Israelis hold a funeral procession for Shiri Bibas and her two sons killed in Gaza

Listen · 4:07
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5307878/nx-s1-5371244-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel Sunday Oct. 27, 2024.

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel Sunday Oct. 27, 2024. Gil Cohen-Magen/AP/Pool AFP hide caption

toggle caption
Gil Cohen-Magen/AP/Pool AFP

Middle East

Israel's ousted defense minister says the military has done all it can in Gaza

On his last day in office, Israel's ousted defense minister offered a revealing glimpse into the war in Gaza — and the decision-maker he holds responsible for holding up a cease-fire deal.

Former Israeli defense minister blames Netanyahu in a meeting with families of hostages

Listen · 3:37
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-33621/nx-s1-5252066-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

A portrait of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah sits amid destruction in a area targeted overnight by Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh on Sep. 26, 2024.

A portrait of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah sits amid destruction in an area targeted overnight by Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh on Sept. 26. Mahmous Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mahmous Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

From pager blasts to Nasrallah’s killing: 12 days that transformed a bloody conflict

NPR steps back and takes a closer look at the days leading up to the killing of Hezbollah's leader. Experts say this development has transformed an already complex and deadly conflict.

Sunday

First responders and Israeli security forces gather amid debris and charred vehicles in Kiryat Bialik in the Haifa district of Israel, following a strike by Lebanon's Hezbollah on Sunday.

A man looks at the site hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Kiryat Bialik, northern Israel, on Sunday. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Hezbollah vows a war of 'reckoning' as exchange of fire with Israel escalates

The Israeli military said 150 rockets, cruise missiles and drones were launched toward Israel. Earlier, exploding electronic devices and an airstrike in Beirut killed dozens and wounded thousands.

Wednesday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Government Press Office in Jerusalem to give a press conference on Sept. 4.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Government Press Office in Jerusalem to give a press conference on Sept. 4. Abir Sultan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Abir Sultan/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East

'The Bibi Files.' Benjamin Netanyahu fails to block documentary from screening

An Israeli court this week rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block a documentary about his legal troubles from screening at a Canadian film festival.

Friday

People are seen among rubble in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on July 21, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua via Getty Images)

People stand amid rubble in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on July 21. Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

A pollster sheds light on Palestinian attitudes toward the U.S., Israel and Hamas

For three decades, Khalil Shikaki has provided insights into Palestinian public opinion. The most recent poll showed a rise in Hamas popularity, though a majority of respondents don't support Hamas.

Tuesday

Palestinian detainees are viewed after they have been released by Israeli army, in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on June 20.

Palestinian detainees after they were released by the Israeli army, in Deir Al Balah, Gaza Strip, on June 20. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Palestinian detainees from Gaza say they are facing abuse in Israeli prisons

Most Palestinians who've been rounded up since Oct. 7 are incarcerated without due process or contact with the outside world, Israeli human rights organizations say. Israel denies abusing detainees.

Gazans held in Israeli jails allege abuse

Listen · 8:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-11048/nx-s1-9bef664b-7062-4e4f-bf41-910660878c8b" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Middle East

Gazans held in Israeli jails allege abuse

After Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the military incarcerated thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. Some are being released and recounting their ordeal and what they describe as torture.

Gazans held in Israeli jails allege abuse

Listen · 8:07
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-4965004/nx-s1-1bbe8355-57ca-46b9-8207-fe440bb64675" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

An Israeli army battle tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on May 7.

An Israeli army battle tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on May 7. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

A timeline of events leading up to Israel's Rafah offensive

The Gaza Strip's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been a key lifeline for people in the Palestinian enclave. Here is a timeline of events since Oct. 7, 2023, leading up to Israel's offensive.

Sunday

Pro-Palestinian supporters wave flags and carry placards during a march in central Stockholm last month in which demonstrators demanded Israel be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Pro-Palestinian supporters wave flags and carry placards during a march in central Stockholm last month in which demonstrators demanded Israel be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest. Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

After facing criticism, Israel has revised its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest

Eden Golan's original song, titled "October Rain," has been renamed "Hurricane" after objections that it was not politically neutral. Israel's public broadcaster will reveal the amended song Sunday.

Saturday

A tattered Israeli flag waves on Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

A tattered Israeli flag waves on Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Maya Levin for NPR

Middle East crisis — explained

Five ways Israelis have changed, after 5 months of war

The state of Israeli society, five months after the Oct. 7 attack, is crucial to understanding where the Israel-Hamas conflict might lead. Here are five ways Israel has been transformed.

State of the World - How Israelis Have Changed in Five Months of War

Listen · 8:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1236537541/g-s1-8863" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org