Ep 2: Gazan-American & Jewish-Israeli Discuss Hostage Families, Activism, and Tribalism

Welcome to episode 2 of our special series of conversations between Z3 founder and podcast host Rabbi Amitai Fraiman and Palestinian writer and peace activist, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib. In this episode, Ahmed reflects on his recent trip to Washington, DC, where he met with hostage families and U.S. officials and he shares the impact of those interactions on his vision for peace. He and Amitai discuss the internal politics of Gaza as Ahmed questions misleading polling data that suggests widespread support for Hamas in Gaza and highlights the cognitive dissonance caused by years of isolation and propaganda. Despite the violence, Ahmed emphasizes moments of humanity and kindness he has witnessed between Palestinians and Israelis, even in Gaza, which give him hope for the future. He shares his mission to be a unique bridge builder between the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian communities, moderating difficult but valuable dialogues online. The episode also touches on the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict, particularly the role of Iran and regional power struggles, highlighting the importance of resolving the conflict for lasting peace in the Middle East. Chapters: (0:00) Episode Preview and Host Intro (04:10) Palestinian Response to Oct. 7 and Polls in Gaza (18:34) Loss of Faith in the Peace Process and Bad Actors (24:04) Ahmed Meeting Hostage Families and U.S. Officials (34:00) Tribalism in Public Dialogue (40:39) Online Voices: The Bad and the Good (48:02) Resistance to Ahmed's Work with Jewish Voices (56:14) Cycle of Blame Impeding Progress (1:01:15) Ahmed Speaks on the Israeli Hostages (1:07:05) Looking Back Vs. Looking Forward (1:09:05) Role of the Palestinian Diaspora in Nation Building (1:11:58) Positioning Palestine as a U.S. Ally (1:15:59) Path Forward for Both Peoples We are deeply grateful to Ahmed for joining us in this difficult but crucial conversation in these times of deep division and strife. About our guest: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is an American writer and analyst who grew up in Gaza City, having left in 2005 as a teenage exchange student to the United States. He writes extensively on Gaza’s political and humanitarian affairs and has been an outspoken critic of Hamas and a promoter of coexistence and peace as the only path forward between Palestinians and Israelis. Alkhatib is a resident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in intelligence and national security studies. His writing has been published in US, and Israeli outlets and his opinions and comments have been featured in the international press.