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Friday

Mourners gather in Israel to honor memory of longtime peace activist Vivian Silver

Hundreds of mourners gather for the funeral service of Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver on Thursday in Kibbutz Gezer, Israel. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

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Maya Levin for NPR

The Picture Show

Mourners gather in Israel to honor memory of longtime peace activist Vivian Silver

Hundreds of mourners gathered at a funeral service for Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver. She was declared dead this week after her remains were found at her home in Israel.

Thursday

Doctors are among the many dead in Gaza. These are their stories

A wounded Palestinian boy arrives to the emergency room of the Al-Shifa hospital, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, on Oct. 17. Israel claims Hamas uses the facility for military purposes and has built a vast underground command center below the hospital. As Israeli forces move in on the facility, hundreds of doctors and patients remain inside. Abed Khaled/AP hide caption

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Abed Khaled/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Doctors are among the many dead in Gaza. These are their stories

More than 200 medical personnel have been killed since the war started. Their colleagues say there's been no time to mourn. In that spirit, doctors shared details about the lives that were lost.

Wednesday

Israeli troops enter Gaza's largest hospital and report finding Hamas weapons there

Israeli troops operate on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City in this photo released by the Israeli military. The Israelis say they found weapons belonging to Hamas, but did not provide details. Hamas denied the claim that it has been operating in or underneath the hospital. Israel Defense Forces/AP hide caption

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Israel Defense Forces/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Israeli troops enter Gaza's largest hospital and report finding Hamas weapons there

Hamas denounced the actions by the Israeli military. The group denied the assertion by Israel and U.S. officials that militants were embedded in Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital.

Monday

We were interviewing a Palestinian farmer. Then the drone and soldiers appeared

Israeli forces take Ayoub Abuhejleh while he was being interviewed by NPR in the West Bank. Ayman Oghanna for NPR hide caption

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Ayman Oghanna for NPR

Middle East crisis — explained

We were interviewing a Palestinian farmer. Then the drone and soldiers appeared

There are days when you head out to report a story, and you think you know where it's going. And then it spins in an entirely different direction. This is the story of one such day.

We were interviewing a Palestinian farmer. Then the drone and soldiers appeared

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Saturday

In the shops of Jerusalem, empty seats and anguished hearts are all that's left

Itay Levy makes music and Kinnors — intricately-carved wooden harps. Ayman Oghanna for NPR hide caption

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Ayman Oghanna for NPR

Middle East crisis — explained

In the shops of Jerusalem, empty seats and anguished hearts are all that's left

The Old City of Jerusalem is thousands of years old. People from all over the world travel here to see the expansive history and the foundation of religions and empires — until now.

In the shops of Jerusalem, empty seats and anguished hearts are all that's left

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Wednesday

This Israeli general saw the horror of the Hamas attack. Now, he's urging optimism

Yair Golan rescued people stranded at the Nova festival when Hamas attacked. Ayman Oghanna for NPR hide caption

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Ayman Oghanna for NPR

Middle East crisis — explained

This Israeli general saw the horror of the Hamas attack. Now, he's urging optimism

The morning of the Hamas attack on Israel, Yair Golan — a former member of Israel's parliament and a major general in the country's military reserves — leapt into action.

This Israeli general saw the horror of the Hamas attack. Now, he's urging optimism

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Monday

The view inside Gaza — from an American citizen who just left

Qassem Ali on his rooftop balcony in Gaza. Qassem Ali hide caption

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Qassem Ali

Middle East crisis — explained

The view inside Gaza — from an American citizen who just left

Qassem Ali is one of the few people allowed to leave Gaza since the conflict with Israel began more than four weeks ago. He describes the anger and sadness he felt as he left.

The view inside Gaza — from an American citizen who just left

Listen · 7:31
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Wednesday

Demonstrators rally to demand a cease-fire against Palestinians in Gaza on Independence Avenue near the U.S. Capitol last month in Washington, D.C.

Demonstrators rally to demand a cease-fire against Palestinians in Gaza on Independence Avenue near the U.S. Capitol last month in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Young progressive Democrats are splitting from the party on Israel

The Democratic Party is confronting internal divisions over the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war exposed political differences.

Young progressive Democrats are splitting from the party on Israel

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Sunday

His call for empathy has made this Jewish studies professor feel isolated

Students from Hunter College chant and hold up signs during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the entrance of their campus in New York earlier this month. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Enlighten Me with Rachel Martin

His call for empathy has made this Jewish studies professor feel isolated

A professor of Jewish history at UCLA has tried to stake out some middle ground, where Jews and Palestinians on campus could safely stand and grieve for one another.

His call for empathy has made this Jewish studies professor feel isolated

Listen · 10:01
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Friday

From Israel, writer Etgar Keret talks about the role of fiction in times of war

Etgar Keret says writing both protects him from reality and can create the bridge to reality. Lielle Sand hide caption

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Lielle Sand

Middle East crisis — explained

From Israel, writer Etgar Keret talks about the role of fiction in times of war

Etgar Keret says writing both protects him from reality and can create the bridge to reality.

From Israel, writer Etgar Keret talks about the role of fiction in times of war

Listen · 7:58
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Thursday

Here's what Biden's trip to Israel did and didn't achieve

President Joe Biden, center left, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center right, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday. Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP hide caption

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Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Here's what Biden's trip to Israel did and didn't achieve

The president's high-stakes visit served simultaneously to show the limits and the strengths of U.S. influence in the region, and the importance of America's long-standing relationship with Israel.

Lots of U.S. presidents have pushed for Middle East peace. Progress has been elusive

President Joe Biden speaks as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials, Wednesday in Tel Aviv. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Lots of U.S. presidents have pushed for Middle East peace. Progress has been elusive

President Biden is the latest in a long line of presidents to place himself in the middle of a Middle East conflict. U.S. efforts have seen failed starts, wrong turns and dead ends, but some progress.

Children make up nearly half of Gaza's population. Here's what it means for the war

A girl tries to collect usable belongings amid the wreckage of vehicles after the explosion at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Children make up nearly half of Gaza's population. Here's what it means for the war

The population of Gaza is one of the youngest in the world. Here's why, what it means for this war, and what it means for the future.

Biden walks a fine line between support for Israel and empathy for Palestinians

President Biden is seen through the window of the Oval Office of the White House during his address to the nation on Thursday night. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Middle East crisis — explained

Biden walks a fine line between support for Israel and empathy for Palestinians

In his Oval Office speech, President Biden reiterated his strong support for Israel in the wake of a deadly attack by Hamas. But it isn't making political waves in a deeply divided America.