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Friday

A woman grieves at a memorial for those killed and abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas militants, near the kibbutz Reim, southern Israel on May 13, 2024.

A woman grieves at a memorial for those killed and abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas militants, near the kibbutz Reim, southern Israel on May 13, 2024. Leo Correa/AP hide caption

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Leo Correa/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

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.

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

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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

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Tuesday

A man walks past a billboard bearing the portraits of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas-led militants, in Jerusalem on Monday, as the country marked the 500th day since their abduction.

A man walks past a billboard bearing the portraits of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas-led militants, in Jerusalem on Monday, as the country marked the 500th day since their abduction. AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Hamas to hand over 4 Israeli hostages' bodies Thursday and 6 living hostages Saturday

Hamas says it has agreed to Israel's request to speed up release of Israeli hostages, including two men held around a decade. The bodies of members of a young family are among those it will hand over.

HAMAS HOSTAGE RELEASES

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Wednesday

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Trump says the U.S. will 'take over' Gaza and relocate its people. What does it mean?

It wasn't immediately clear what legal authority Trump would have to execute his proposals, and they would likely be met by fierce resistance from Palestinians and from regional Arab countries.

Trump says the U.S. will ‘take over’ Gaza and relocate its people. What does it mean?

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Tuesday

Sunday

Thursday

Smoke from fighting billows in the edges of the town of Hama, Syria, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024.

Smoke from fighting billows on the edges of Hama, Syria, Dec. 3. Omar Albam/AP hide caption

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Omar Albam/AP

Middle East

Syrian opposition forces enter the key city of Hama, in a new blow to Assad's regime

Syrian rebels have entered another major city, in a further blow to President Bashar Assad after they took over Aleppo days earlier.

Syrian rebels enter second key city

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Monday

Antigovernment fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30.

Antigovernment fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30. Omar Haj Kadour/AFP hide caption

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Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

Middle East

Who are the rebels who have toppled the regime in Syria?

Syrian rebels have swept through the country at lightning pace, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee. But who are they and what are their aims?

Who are the rebels who have seized control of Aleppo, Syria?

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Friday

Friday

Thursday

Hanan Khdour, 47, stands beside the grave of her son Mohammad Khdour in Biddu, West Bank, on Sept. 19, 2024. Mohammad, 17, and his cousin Malek Mansour, 16, also from Biddu, were driving in the hills not too far from their home in February 2024, when a man shot at their car from a distance as they were driving back.

Hanan Khdour, 47, stands beside the grave of her son Mohammad Khdour in Biddu, West Bank, on Sept. 19, 2024. Mohammad, 17, and his cousin Malek Mansour, 16, also from Biddu, were driving in the hills not too far from their home in February 2024, when a man shot at their car from a distance as they were driving back. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

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Maya Levin for NPR

National Security

DOJ silent as families of Americans killed in West Bank, Gaza demand it investigate

The Justice Department vowed to investigate Americans killed by Hamas in the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. But the DOJ has done nothing to investigate deaths of 4 Americans killed in the West Bank and Gaza by Israelis.

DOJ silent as families of Americans killed in West Bank and Gaza demand it investigate

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Friday

Vice President Harris hands out food to people at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2, 2024 during a tour of hurricane damage in the area.

Vice President Harris hands out food to people at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2, during a tour of hurricane damage in the area. Brendan Smialowski/AFP hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Politics

The October surprise: Harris is navigating a pair of them

Devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Escalated tensions in the Middle East. The Harris campaign is navigating a pair of October surprises as Election Day draws closer.

Harris Oct surprises

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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

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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.

Saturday

Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appears via a video link, during a Nov. 3, 2023, rally in Beirut to commemorate Hezbollah fighters who were killed in South Lebanon while fighting against the Israeli forces.

Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appears via a video link, during a Nov. 3, 2023, rally in Beirut to commemorate Hezbollah fighters who were killed in South Lebanon while fighting against the Israeli forces. Hussein Malla/AP hide caption

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Hussein Malla/AP

Analysis

Middle East crisis — explained

Analysis: Hassan Nasrallah’s killing transforms an already deadly regional conflict

With Hassan Nasrallah dead in Israeli airstrikes, the Iran-backed militant group is facing enormous challenges as the region is yet again thrown into uncertainty.