Palestinian who wrote a book called "Hamas and Its 2 Million Hostages" interviewed on NPR
NPR interview with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Ahmed was born and grew up in Gaza city, lost 2 friends in an Israeli airstrike when he was 11, eventually sought political asylum when he was 17 during the 2nd Intifada and moved to the US he became an advocate for Palestinians and peaceful solutions. Since he left Gaza he has lost roughly 30 family members to airstrikes in the region.
He places the blame squarely on Hamas. He expertly details the way Hamas rode a wave of Islamism in the 70's and 80's in what he calls a relatively secular region (Gaza) prior to that era. They embedded themselves in the schools, community resources, etc and then pivoted to an armed resistance wing that essentially rejected every opportunity to build infrastructure: airports, seaports, etc because it would've meant disarming. Ahmed voices his optimism prior to the 2nd Intifada and how 20 years went by since Gaza was offered $15bn to build these things (for which he developed a plan with "an army of engineers" and had actual designs at one point)....and Ismail Haniyeh rejected it. Because it meant disarming.
He pulls no punches, he doesn't give Israel a pass, but he keeps his discourse very much focused on what Palestine and specifically Gaza has done that has perpetuated the cycle of violence.
I appreciated his candid, peace- and developement-oriented outlook of Gaza and his continued work for a lasting solution.