Ep. 2: The Human Reality: The Devastation of Gaza (Khalil Sayegh – The Agora Initiative, Washington, D.C.)

Guest: Khalil Sayegh, founder and executive director of The Agora Inititative, Washington, D.C. Hosts: Efe & Mert Bio: Khalil Sayegh is a Palestinian Christian born and raised in the Gaza Strip in a refugee family, displaced during the 1948 Nakba. He lived through the Second Intifada, the 2008 Gaza War, and the rise of Hamas before moving to the West Bank and later to Washington, D.C. Today, he is one of the most prominent Gazan voices in the United States. His analysis appeared in the BBC, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Le Monde, and La Croix. The Parliament of the World’s Religions has described him as a moral leader with a “deep-rooted passion for justice and peace.” His quest for truth led him to an outlook in which he “deeply empathized with both Palestinians and Israelis regarding their experiences of the conflict,” as the Jewish Federation has highlighted. Khalil Sayegh holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Politics from American University in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in democratization and political violence. He is the founder of The Agora Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering equal rights, security, and prosperity for both Palestinians and Israelis. In this episode: Khalil Sayegh shares his deeply personal story of growing up in Gaza as a Christian, living through war, and losing his sister Lara, his father Jeries, and many relatives and friends during the current devastation of Gaza. He speaks about the human realities in Gaza before and after October 7, the rise of Hamas, and what the outside world often misunderstands about Gazans. We discuss his journey from Gaza to Washington, his work with The Agora Initiative, and his views on both the global student protests and the local protests against Hamas, which he vocally supports. Finally, Khalil Sayegh reflects on hope, dialogue, and his vision for a shared future for Palestinians and Israelis. This episode was recorded on June 11, 2025. Links: The Agora Initiative: https://theagorainitiative.org/about Dedication: We dedicate this Podcast to all victims and survivors of October 7, the hostages and their families, to all innocent civilians killed in Gaza and their grieving families and friends. To our dear guests Udi Goren, Khalil Sayegh, Sima and Mai who shared their losses so powerfully with us. To their families: Tal’s wife Ella Haimi, their children Nir, Einav, Udi and Lotan who never got the chance to meet his father. To Khalil Sayegh’s mother and siblings, to Mai’s and Sima’s family, to her mother Bushra. To the blessed memory of:  Tal Haimi, Lara Sayegh, Jeris Sayegh, Mahmoud, Danny Darlington, and Haim Perry. Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team. Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.