On October 5th, Hamze Awawde, a Palestinian peace activist born in Hebron, had just returned to the West Bank after several months of leading peace camps for teenagers in the United States. While driving with his seven-year-old son, soldiers suddenly appeared and pointed guns at his head, perhaps mistaking him for someone else. He was still grappling with the fear from that incident when October 7th struck. Recognizing the potential impact on the region, Hamze and his family decided to leave the country, eventually moving to Italy. During this time, Hamze even considered abandoning his Palestinian identity. However, an interview with Maoz Inon changed his perspective. Maoz’s parents had been murdered in Kibbutz Netiv Haasara, yet he and his brother Magen continued advocating for peace, emphasizing that further bloodshed would only lead to more violence. Inspired by their message, Hamze joined them in touring the world to meet with students, leaders, and anyone willing to listen. Hamze is a certified facilitator and mentor, currently serving as the Regional Manager at Hands of Peace. This non-profit organization fosters dialogue and understanding among Jewish, Palestinian, and American teenagers. Before joining Hands of Peace, Hamze was the Regional Manager of the Palestinian Delegation. He recruited young participants for skill-building and conflict resolution programs with YaLa Young Leaders. There, he developed the YaLa Online Academy, YaLa Press, and YaLa Social Media channels. Most recently, Hamze organized and recruited 130 young activists from the Middle East and Africa for a six-week online leadership course. He also coordinated an online Facebook for Journalists program with the International Center of Journalists. Hamze holds an MA in Global Community Development from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a BA in Business Administration and Economics from Birzeit University in Ramallah.