What if the world’s most horrific terror attack against Jews since the Holocaust could have been prevented—not by better intelligence, but by a simple “failure of imagination”?

In this explosive episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down with Tom Nides, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, for a rare, brutally honest conversation about October 7th, Israel’s military response, and the future of the region.

Ambassador Nides recounts his first-hand reaction to the October 7th Hamas attack, revealing where he was, how Israeli security failed, and why no one saw it coming. He dives into the lasting trauma within Israeli society, the complex politics around Netanyahu’s government, and why he believes the war’s goals were misdefined—and a humanitarian disaster allowed to unfold.

From his own time in Israel and the West Bank to his work with hostages’ families, Nides offers a perspective few can match. He doesn’t hold back on Israel’s PR failures or on the rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. But he also insists on hope: for peace, for rebuilding, for dialogue, and for a new consensus—if the war can finally end.

Key highlights from the episode:

• The real reasons behind Israel’s intelligence breakdown on October 7th—and who Nides thinks should be held responsible.
• What Nides would have done differently to avoid humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
• How political pressures—and right-wing shifts inside Israel—have changed the war’s course and defined “success.”
• Why Nides thinks now is the time to end the war—and what he thinks of peace proposals from the Trump and Biden camps.
• The untold stories of the hostages, the pain of families—on both sides—and the moral dilemma facing the Jewish community worldwide.
• A candid discussion on the rise of anti-Semitism, the future of Israel’s democracy, and why Nides still insists on the possibility of peace.

Timestamped Overview:

• [00:00:01] – Richard Gordon introduces the context: post-October 7th Israel-Hamas conflict.
• [00:01:08] – Tom Nides joins, recounts where he was during the attack and its emotional impact.
• [00:04:20] – The shockwaves in Israeli society and the fundamental change after October 7th.
• [00:07:25] – An insider’s take: why Israeli security failed and who bears responsibility.
• [00:11:18] – Hamas’ true motivations, martyrdom, and why peace from within Gaza is so hard.
• [00:13:28] – Tom Nides on his personal and diplomatic journey since leaving his ambassadorship.
• [00:16:27] – Has Israel waged the war properly? Humanitarian disaster and missed PR opportunities.
• [00:25:21] – The disconnect between Israel’s government, global opinion, and policy successes/failures.
• [00:32:28] – Evaluating the Trump peace plan, Biden’s diplomatic efforts, and the path to rebuilding Gaza.
• [00:41:44] – Is Israeli democracy still vibrant? Mass protests and the battle for the country’s soul.
• [00:46:21] – The future of Palestine, two-state solutions, and practical steps forward.
• [00:52:36] – Stories of compassion: how Nides approached both Israeli and Palestinian suffering.
• [00:53:14] – Confronting anti-Semitism, college protests, and the political landscape in America.
• [00:58:19] – U.S. government shutdown reflections—how dysfunction hits real people.
• [01:00:38] – Why, despite everything, Tom Nides remains hopeful about the future of Israel and the Middle East.

This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most complicated—and consequential—conflicts on earth, with someone who has been at the center of it all.