James Hider
James Hider is NPR's Middle East editor.
Hider has worked for years in the Middle East, first as the deputy bureau chief for AFP news agency in Jerusalem during the height of the second Palestinian Intifada, then covering the US-British invasion of Iraq and the subsequent civil war there for The Times of London. In 2011, he covered the Arab Spring uprisings, first from Tahrir Square in Egypt, then from the front lines in the Libyan civil war. He has reported from almost all the countries in the region, including Yemen and Syria.
Hider also has covered conflict in the Balkans, Afghanistan and the Caucasus, and later served as Latin America editor for The Times.
He is the author and co-author of award-winning books on the Middle East, the oppression of the Uyghurs in China and the international disaster recovery industry. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., and writes science-fiction novels for fun. [Copyright 2025 NPR]
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President Trump says he is hopeful to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal this week. In his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump could outline a plan for Gaza after 21 months of war between Israel and Hamas. -
Israel launched an airstrike on Iran overnight. Blasts were heard in the capital Tehran around 3am local time. Israel's defense ministry warned it expects missile and drone retaliation. -
President Trump warned that a "massive" war could break out in the Middle East over Iran's nuclear program, after the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Iran wasn't complying with its nonproliferation duties. -
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the government was arming factions in the Gaza Strip to combat Hamas, after accusations from an opposition politician. -
In an interview with NPR, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the U.K., Canada and France were "blaming the wrong perpetrator," and that Hamas is responsible for the suffering in Gaza. -
It's been more than a decade since the two powers have had direct talks. President Trump offered few details about what the talks would entail, or when they'd be scheduled.
