Denis Baranov 🤍❤🤍

About Palestinian voices speaking at the DNC: While I cannot provide specific details, several allies connected to the entirety of the web of leadership that makes decisions on speaker slots had strongly recommended that I be able to speak at the convention to offer a balanced and nuanced perspective steeped in empathy and shared humanity for both Palestinians and Israelis. The goal was for me to talk about the suffering and hardship in Gaza and how it has affected me and my family, but it was also to have me speak as an American about the need to cherish our country and promote healing, unity, and peace and coexistence across our divisive and entrenched narratives. I am concerned by some of the loud voices that are doing the Palestinian cause a disservice with their rhetoric, choices, threats, and unhelpful tones, which stir chaos and division instead of unity and cohesion. This is why I chose not to be in Chicago unless I had a productive role to play. I was not part of the uncommitted group, nor did I interact with their movement or leadership. I wanted to speak on my own as someone with skin in the game who grew up in Gaza but is also proud of being an American and cherishes our democracy and country, which has an important role to play in ending the suffering in Gaza and stopping the war, getting the hostages released, and supporting the journey of healing, reconciliation, and rebuilding. I am connected with several Israeli hostages’ families who were interested in joining me on stage, including the father of an IDF soldier who is currently in Hamas’s captivity in Gaza. I regret that a unique and rare opportunity to detoxify the dysfunctional discourse around the Israel and Palestine issue through a live demonstration of the power of engagement, unity, compassion, and healing across the divided lines, modeling that bereaved Palestinians and Israelis can engage kindly and sincerely to inspire hope for a different path forward. There are many other rational, compelling, powerful Palestinian voices who are worthy of being heard and represent diverse perspectives—it is unfortunate that none were given an opportunity to speak, especially after an Israeli family (whom I love and respect) was given a prime speaking slot. This could have been a chance to humanize the moment rather than drive a wedge deeper into the heart of this conflict.