Ideas & Behavior

Life in Palestine Since October 7 | Sami Awad

Sami Awad begins with an unexpected reason to be happy: his neighborhood in Bethlehem has running water for the first time in almost a month. In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric…

September 28, 2026Hosted by Eric Pratum

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Sami Awad begins with an unexpected reason to be happy: his neighborhood in Bethlehem has running water for the first time in almost a month.

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric talks with Sami, a Palestinian Christian and nonviolent activist, about the conflict between Israel and Palestine and life since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Speaking from his home in the West Bank, Sami describes a reality that extends beyond the war in Gaza.

He recalls where he was when the attacks began and why he immediately called his family in Gaza, fearing what would follow. He describes restrictions on movement, access to water and land, and his fear that his own family could be forced from its home.

Sami traces his family’s displacement in 1948, the hope he felt during the Oslo peace process, and why he believes that hope collapsed. He offers his perspective on Israeli policy, Palestinian leadership, Christian Zionism, and the international pressure he believes a peaceful future would require.

Despite everything he describes, Sami says October 7 and its aftermath have made him more committed to nonviolence. For him, that means resisting injustice without dehumanizing the people responsible. He discusses visiting Auschwitz, addressing historical trauma with Palestinians and Israelis, and facing criticism for acknowledging the other community’s suffering.

The conversation closes with The Sacred Awakening: Reclaiming Christ Consciousness. Sami explores what Jesus’ teachings ask of people living amid violence and why seeking inner peace cannot mean looking away from the suffering around you.

Topics Discussed and Questions Answered

What is life in Bethlehem and the West Bank like since October 7?
What did Sami fear for his family in Gaza when the attacks began?
How do restrictions on water, land, and movement affect daily life?
How did his family’s displacement in 1948 shape his outlook?
Why does Sami believe the Oslo peace process failed?
How does he see Christian Zionism influencing the conflict?
What would need to change for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace?
Why has Sami become more committed to nonviolence since October 7?
Can acknowledging the other side’s trauma be seen as betrayal?
What connects Jesus’ teachings, inner peace, and resistance to injustice?

About Sami Awad

Sami Awad is a Palestinian Christian activist, author, and co-director of Nonviolence International. Based in Bethlehem, he founded Holy Land Trust and works on nonviolent action, trauma resilience, and leadership development. He is the author of The Sacred Awakening: Reclaiming Christ Consciousness.

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