Day 686 - Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Disengagement through the eyes of a Gazan

Aug 22, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, an advocate for Palestinian narratives and a critic of Hamas, shares his poignant childhood memories from Gaza. He reflects on the implications of the 2005 Disengagement, highlighting its effects on the Gazan populace and the rise of Hamas, intertwined with civilian life. Alkhatib also explores the evolving sentiments towards Hamas among Gazans and the disparities in foreign aid. His unique perspective sheds light on the intricate dynamics of identity and peace in a region marked by conflict.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Stuck At Checkpoints

Ahmed Fouad Al-Khatib recounts childhood memories of checkpoints, settler bridges, and long delays that shaped his view of Gaza.
He left Gaza one month before the 2005 withdrawal and later could not return after events in 2006, leading to asylum in the U.S.

INSIGHT

Hamas Embedded Through Social Services

Hamas grew from the Muslim Brotherhood and expanded via social services and religious activism in Gaza under permissive authorities.
That embedding let Hamas weave into civilian life and made it hard for security services to root out.

INSIGHT

Disengagement Empowered Extremists

The unilateral nature of Israel's 2005 disengagement excluded the Palestinian Authority and strengthened narratives that armed resistance achieved results.
That perception empowered Hamas politically and militarily rather than boosting moderates.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.

This Friday, we present a third installment of our August mini-series centering on the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza, following a zoom-out conversation with public intellectual Dr. Micah Goodman and a personal account of life in Gush Katif by former Nezer Hazani resident Anita Tucker.

This week, we hear from Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, who shares the perspective of Palestinians within the Gaza Strip and the ripple effect felt there after the Disengagement.

Alkhatib, who left the Strip for the United States as a high school pupil in 2005, leads Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse.

He is an outspoken critic of Hamas, who writes and speaks about Gaza’s political and humanitarian affairs at a variety of international media outlets.

We hear about Alkhatib's childhood in Gaza City and the few experiences he had with the Jewish Gush Katif residents. We learn about how, at age 17, Alkhatib became one of the first Palestinians to receive asylum in the US following the rise of Hamas in the Strip.

Alkhatib describes the seeds of Hamas and how it became emboldened through the tacit encouragement of Israel. Today, he says, the terror group is so entangled with the civilian population that uprooting it is virtually impossible without any other alternative on the horizon.

He looks back at the wasted opportunity of the Disengagement. "This is a thread that we had and could have grabbed onto and done something with," he tells The Times of Israel.

Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Palestinian police set up Palestinian and Fatah flags on top of a synagogue in the former Jewish settlement of Neve Dekalim in the southern Gaza Strip, September 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

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