Facing the Middle East with Felice Friedson – Ep. 9: ‘Gazans Are Not Hamas,’ Says Anti-Hamas Leader Seeking US Dialogue
From Gaza to Metula to Mea Shearim, the program explores resistance, resilience, and rare moments of coexistence across the region
In this powerful edition of Facing the Middle East, Felice Friedson sits down with Moumen al-Natour, a Gazan activist and the leader of an emerging civil protest movement against Hamas. Al-Natour, who has lived in displacement camps since 2023, calls for a new path forward for Palestinians—one that separates civil society from the armed rule of Hamas. In a rare and emotionally charged interview, he appeals directly to US President Donald Trump, asking him to open a dialogue with ordinary Gazans who seek peace and justice, not war. Al-Natour offers a raw account of life under Hamas rule, the destruction of Gaza since October 7, and his belief that Gazans could play a vital role in freeing Israeli hostages.
The episode also travels north to Israel’s border with Lebanon, where communities like Metula and Kiryat Shmona remain under constant threat from Hezbollah rocket fire. Reporters Dario Sanchez and Nathan Klabin document the psychological and physical toll on residents who have seen their towns turned into near ghost towns. With ongoing construction of bomb shelters and deep divisions over future security, the question remains whether these communities will ever feel safe again.
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Finally, the program explores a lesser-known facet of Israeli society—the daily coexistence between Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. Reporter Giorgio Valente visits Kiryat Ye’arim and the nearby Arab villages to uncover how shared public spaces, such as a narghile café in Ein Nakuba, have quietly become hubs of cooperation and mutual respect. While political tensions run high elsewhere, these stories reveal unexpected pockets of harmony between communities often seen as deeply divided.
Together, these stories present a nuanced portrait of a region where courage, resilience, and complexity defy simple narratives—and where the human spirit persists in seeking peace against overwhelming odds.
