Prolonging the Gaza war helped the Israeli prime minister forestall a political reckoning.

© Ziv Koren/Polaris, for The New York Times

Secret meetings, altered records, ignored intelligence: the inside story of the prime minister’s political calculations since Oct. 7.

© Ziv Koren/Polaris, for The New York Times

The rise of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in the chain of command suggests the group will hold firm to its position demanding a total end to the war before releasing all remaining hostages.

© Saher Alghorra for The New York Times

Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, cited “positive signs” in the long-moribund cease-fire talks to end the war in Gaza and free the hostages held there.

© Saher Alghorra for The New York Times