Amanpour – "Who Will Lead Gaza?"

Podcast by CNN Podcasts | October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Amanpour is centered on the critical question facing the Middle East: Who will govern Gaza after the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas? The program examines the conditions facing Palestinians, the potential leadership of Marwan Barghouti, and the international political implications of who controls Gaza's future. Alongside these urgent political discussions, the episode also features a retrospective interview with boundary-pushing artist Marina Abramovic, and a conversation with filmmaker Colin Hanks about his new documentary celebrating the life and legacy of beloved actor John Candy.

Segment 1: The Future of Gaza and the Question of Leadership

Key Discussion Points

• Gaza’s Uncertain Future:

  • As a fragile ceasefire holds, Gaza’s 2 million residents face uncertainty regarding postwar governance.
  • Talks are underway in Egypt involving a technocratic leadership plan. The Egyptian government has named 15 Palestinian technocrats to lead, but prominent leader Marwan Barghouti remains excluded due to Israeli refusal to release him from prison.
  • Barghouti is seen by many, even senior Israeli voices, as a potential unifying leader for Palestinians.

• Who is Marwan Barghouti?

  • Imprisoned since 2002 for alleged involvement in attacks during the second intifada, Barghouti denies all accusations and refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Israeli court that convicted him.
  • Barghouti’s popularity crosses factional lines; he is repeatedly described as "the only one right now who could unite [Palestinians]." (Amanpour, 01:45)
  • Even some Israeli military and intelligence officials support his release as a path toward peace.

"He is the most popular Palestinian right now and he is the hope of those who want to have an agreement."
– Unnamed Israeli official, quoted by Christiane Amanpour [02:31]

• Testimony from Arab Barghouti, Marwan’s Son:

  • Arab Barghouti shares personal and painful accounts of his father's imprisonment, solitary confinement, and alleged abuse by Israeli prison staff.
  • He stresses the lack of accountability for prison violence:

    "They've already killed more than 77 Palestinian detainees inside prison in the last two years. Unfortunately, there is no accountability whatsoever."
    – Arab Barghouti [05:52]

  • A viral video of Barghouti looking frail is discussed, with Arab framing it as a symbol of both the Palestinian struggle and the aggressiveness of the current Israeli government.

• The Symbolism and Potential of Barghouti’s Leadership:

  • Barghouti is credited for facilitating the 2006 Prisoners’ Document, uniting all major Palestinian factions (including Hamas and Islamic Jihad) in support of a Palestinian state along 1967 borders and a commitment to non-targeting of civilians.
  • Arab Barghouti emphasizes his father’s progressivism, commitment to women's rights, youth participation, and democracy.

"My father embodies the Palestinian struggle... he is someone who has all the credibility to unite the Palestinian people. And that's what we need."
– Arab Barghouti [10:51]

• Why is Barghouti Still In Prison?

  • Arab insists Barghouti is more of a political threat than a security threat to Israel, suggesting he is being kept imprisoned because he could lead Palestinians toward unity and peace talks.

• International Involvement:

  • On appeals to the Trump administration and Western governments, Arab Barghouti calls for urgent international intervention:

    "What are you waiting for? This is a man who is my father, who has been calling for the two state solution, who has been calling for coexistence... and he's been targeted."
    – Arab Barghouti [08:23]

  • He urges President Trump and other leaders to recognize his father’s "reasonable leadership" as essential to ending the conflict permanently.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Christiane Amanpour [04:51]: "Arab, I do want to ask you about that, because there have been reports... that he was, they say, beaten and knocked unconscious."
• Arab Barghouti [07:47]: "I was shocked a lot, because, you know, my father has been through a lot, and you can see that from his body and how he looks... This video and this picture that you just saw will go down in history as a great representation and a perfect representation of the face of the Palestinian struggle."
• Marwan Barghouti (archive clip) [10:10]:

  "Israel succeeded to arrest my body, but not my head and not my soul. They will not succeed to do that. They will not broke our will for independence and for freedom."

• Arab Barghouti [14:25]: "My father can bring and gather all the Palestinian people and he has the credibility and the track record..."

Segment 2: Marina Abramovic – Art Without Limits

Key Discussion Points

• Exploring Limits in Art:
  • Marina Abramovic's work examines boundaries, both personal and societal, using her own body as medium.
  • Her latest show, "Balkan Erotic Epic," explores sexuality and folklore through dance and music.

"Who create limits? Who create limits? I think we do... I'm interested in the idea I hate and I'm incredibly scared of..."
– Marina Abramovic [19:38]

• On Pushing Boundaries:

  • Abramovic recalls performing pieces that expose her physically and emotionally to audiences, including a 1977 piece where she and her partner stood naked in a doorway for spectators to pass through.
  • She discusses the evolution from radical experimentation ("the radical way of doing stuff") to the contemporary era’s increased sensitivity and restrictions.

• Iconic Performances and Their Impact:

  • Rhythm 0 (Naples, 1974): She offered herself as a "tool" with 72 objects, and let the audience do whatever they wanted to her, resulting in escalating violence and emotional intensity.

    "Women didn't do anything. Women told men what to do. And women took... handkerchief and wash my face with the tears."
    – Marina Abramovic [32:31]

  • The Artist Is Present (MoMA, 2010): Abramovic sat in silent, prolonged eye contact with attendees, and describes a viral, emotional reunion with her former lover during the show.

• Art as Universal and Timeless:

  • Abramovic emphasizes creating work that transcends individual conflict to speak to universal experiences of war, suffering, and resilience.

    "Artists should not create something which is temporary. You have to create something which is transitory that have transition to any war, anytime, any place."
    – Marina Abramovic [24:49]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Marina Abramovic [22:30]: "If I will read the criticism from the 70s, I will never leave the house. I was completely crucified."
• Marina Abramovic [35:24]: "To me, the most important is really to be example, that you can overcome the fear of pain, the fear of dying, the fear of suffering..."
• Marina Abramovic [36:40]: "Failures are so important because failures is a main, main learning material. You fail, you stand up and do it again."

Segment 3: John Candy, "I Like Me" – Revisiting a Comic Legacy

Key Discussion Points

• John Candy’s Enduring Appeal:
  • Actor and director Colin Hanks discusses what made John Candy so universally beloved—a mix of gregariousness, genuine care for others, and comedic talent.
  • The documentary explores the deep struggles Candy faced, particularly stemming from childhood trauma (the death of his father) and lifelong self-doubt.

"He was very, very genuine, gregarious, outgoing, caring, all of those things, all of those elements that you wish John was. He was, he was the genuine article."
– Colin Hanks [39:12]

• Candy’s Early Comedy Roots:

  • His start in Toronto’s Second City and SCTV placed him among a group of rising stars.
  • The collaborative ethos and supportive environment of 70s Toronto comedy shaped his career and personality.

• Hollywood Success and Personal Struggles:

  • The 1980s saw Candy starring in hit after hit, but he was prone to saying yes to everything, often appearing even in small roles.
  • Despite his public image, Candy faced "crippling self-doubt and anxiety," often caring for everyone but himself.

"He took care of everyone but himself. And that really struck a chord with me, that feeling of putting everyone else first and sort of putting himself at risk."
– Colin Hanks [45:43]

• Changing Views on Mental Health:

  • The documentary highlights how discussions about mental health were almost nonexistent during Candy’s life—a notable contrast to today's openness.

• Signature Role in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles":

  • A poignant examination of Candy’s famous "I like me" monologue as blending character and the actor’s real-life outlook.

"There’s real soul there, there’s real humanity there. And when you look at Planes, Trains and Automobiles now, I don’t think there’s any other actor on earth that could have given that performance."
– Colin Hanks [52:25]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Colin Hanks [41:32]: "There was just something about Toronto at that time... they became the all star team."
• Colin Hanks [44:44]: "[Candy] made me feel special even as, you know, a seven year old kid. He made me feel seen, he made me feel heard."
• Colin Hanks [47:07]: "I was shocked to see how uncomfortable he was in interviews, how, you know, ill at ease he was... It was soul crushing, really, when you think about it."
• Colin Hanks [51:52]:

  (Clip) John Candy as Del Griffith: "I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me because I'm the real article. What you see is what you get."

• Colin Hanks [53:13]: "I can see it in, you know, a lot of his even broader stuff as well. But, you know, just the little things that John was able to put into each one of his performances, there's real soul there..."

Memorable Moments & Reflections

• The episode effectively interweaves the stark, present-day questions of power and justice in Gaza with creative and humanitarian themes from the worlds of art and film.
• The conversation with Arab Barghouti is emotionally charged and deeply personal, connecting family pain with questions of national leadership and hopes for peace.
• Marina Abramovic’s perspective on art transcends mere performance, advocating for the power of vulnerability and the need to lift spirits during times of collective trauma.
• Colin Hanks' documentary brings new empathy to an iconic figure, showing how comedians and performers also struggle with the quiet burdens of life.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gaza Leadership, Marwan Barghouti & Arab Barghouti Interview: 00:04 – 17:46
• Marina Abramovic Interview & Performance Art: 18:40 – 36:53
• John Candy: Colin Hanks Interview & Documentary Discussion: 37:39 – 53:17

[End of Summary]