Gershon Baskin, a Jewish man living in Israel, has secretly communicated with Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad for 17 years to promote peace. Since 2006, their conversations have allowed each side to share their experiences and frustrations, helping to resolve conflicts. However, their friendship ended following the October 7 attacks, when Hamad publicly supported the violence. The terrorist incidents led to Israel invading Gaza, and the former colleagues were subsequently unable to negotiate a ceasefire. Despite their rapport, Baskin and Hamad became estranged after Hamad voiced support for the murder of Israeli citizens.
The pair’s connection formed when they worked together to secure the release of an Israeli soldier, continuing their discussions for 17 years thereafter. Although they negotiated the release of the soldier, attempts to arrange subsequent truces and prisoner exchanges were unsuccessful, and their relationship soured after the October 7 attacks.
Hamad’s drastic change in stance dismayed Baskin, who had previously believed that Hamad could move towards recognizing Israel’s legitimacy and support peace. Their conversations, critical in obtaining the prisoner release, unfortunately failed to sustain a long-term and mutual understanding between the two sides. Ultimately, Hamad’s shift in viewpoint led to the end of their meaningful relationship.
Baskin, a well-known Israeli peace activist, was previously impressed by Hamad’s moderate views, making it difficult for him to comprehend the drastic and damaging transformation in Hamad’s ideology. According to historian Azzam Tamimi, the deaths of close acquaintances and friends during the Israeli attacks likely influenced Hamad’s dramatic shift in perspective, leading to the breakup of his long-standing and concealed friendship with Baskin.
