Hiba Qasas

And a few months later, the second intifada started, and those we were sharing with were back in uniforms, fighting in our own towns.

I lost friends.

My house was destroyed.

And I lost hope.

And for nearly two decades, I dedicated my career to working with people affected by conflict

but I avoided working on my own.

It was just too painful.

Then October 7th happened, and the war in Gaza expanded, and I realized if I truly believe in my work, I have to bring in Israelis and Palestinians to the hardest room in my life.

So that's what I did.

Come into that room with me.

It's weeks after October 7th.

The war is raging,

Loss and trauma are overwhelming.

The door closes and 76 people sit down, carrying decades of grievances and recent loss.

No one trusts anyone.

Not the room, not the process, not each other, not me.

They're Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but they're not the usual suspects.

They're security leaders, business leaders, investors, political figures, journalists, serious operators.

And outside that room, the public narrative is collapsing so fast, it's so hard, it's so polarized.

In a room like that, if you start with the word peace, you get laughed out of the building.