GazaPassage was formed by October 10, 2023 when a group of American attorneys purchased the domain to advocate for one simple mission:

Helping non-combatants escape a warzone, Gaza.

Several less well-known initiatives followed as reported in Israeli media.

In that time the organization has went from being recognized in Israeli media to being attacked for it.

Now, the Trump administration has effectively overtaken our mission, causing a change in the organization’s direction.

Today, we publish an interview conducted by GazaPassage Spokesperson Christopher Bedell, with founder and International Envoy Edward “Coach” Weinhaus, who, together with Dr. Isaac Amon, make up the GazaPassage Working Group.
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BEDELL: Did you ever imagine when you hired me a decade and a half ago, I would be interviewing you about us convincing Donald Trump to support our organization’s mission?

COACH: [laughing] That’s as loaded a question that has ever started an interview. Let’s back up…

BEDELL: Ok. Ok. No, I don’t work for you anymore. And yes, we have to update my bio – I jumped from Polsinelli to Denton’s. But more than half a decade before we went to law school together, you hired me at your media company to work in sales. And we argued incessantly about politics and especially the Middle East. It was during the Flotilla…

COACH: We lived lives together now three times it seems. But our differing politics never interfered with our friendship.

BEDELL: Thank you for never allowing me to change your mind! No, in all seriousness, our ability to agree and disagree led to GazaPassage. Tell us about how we got started.

COACH: On October 7th, I was a viewer. On October 8th, I decided to be a participant. I saw where the military strategy and world opinion would lead. Israel would be forced to fight with its hands tied behind its back either by its own rules of engagement or international pressure. Hamas would not be able to surrender based on its own existential ideological commitment. The innocent in Gaza would be left as helpless victims, moved around, killed, used as shields, or “civilian casualties.” There would be no avoidance of that outcome. No amount of my advocacy work would change that . But, what I could do was help get innocent civilians out of harm’s way.

BEDELL: That was what struck Isaac [Dr. Amon] and me. This wasn’t political. This was just humane. We never had to take a position on strategy or the war conduct. We just had to help get people out of harm’s way. Have we?

COACH: That answer is clearly yes although mostly indirectly. Let me answer the direct impacts first. Our working group created the GazaPassage Pledge which nearly immediately had nations taking. These were small commitments – 100’s, 1000’s. And I should mention, my travel to Israel and reporting, which is another story, even allowed this based on public commitments I garnered from the Prime Minister’s Office.

BEDELL: But why the pivots?

COACH: Well we have had several but the pivots haven’t ever ended the Pledge, but rather sought to expand it, which has also been dramatically successful by measure of our influence, more of it direct when it comes to Israeli policy but internationally, I would just venture those are less direct where we can’t take full credit. The Pledge-taking really wasn’t large enough to help the people directly reaching out to us. So we had multiple endeavors. We created a financial model which we are now seeing being discussed related to Somaliland’s Pledge which may be our largest victory. The idea is countries needed to be able to have frameworks for negotiating financial compensation for helping the non-combatants. Heck, even the recent news out of Egypt relies on the trifurcation of hosting we developed, whether they take non-combatants or not.

BEDELL: How did that help the specific people reaching out?

COACH: That’s been my own personal biggest failure so far, but also the organization’s biggest success. First the – let’s call it “non-success” since I won’t give up – it gives me no joy to say that the hundreds of GazaPassage Pilot and Work Visa Volunteers were caught up in two political tsunamis our small group can’t affect – nor would we try. First, the January 2025 ceasefire stopped all of our efforts for them. We can’t interfere with “peace” as a group – we aren’t that political – pushing for people to leave could have upset the ceasefire. Then, almost by divine intervention, the Trump policy, depending on how it has been characterized, have taken our exact position. They are taking our Pledge and treating it as American policy. Thus, any of our work that goes against American policy could open us up to liability or attention our group wasn’t prepared for. We won’t succeed more than President Trump, we aren’t going to act like it to the potential detriment of the very people we are trying to help.

BEDELL: Can. you comment on interactions with the Trump administration?

COACH: Absolutely not.

BEDELL: Did you discuss GazaPassage with any  members of the administration prior to joining the administration?

COACH: Yes.

BEDELL: I know this Coach. This is “witness stand Coach.” Rather than ask to treat the witness as hostile, why don’t you just share what you can about GazaPassage’s influence on the White House adopting our position.

COACH: D—. [pause]. GazaPassage already reported my personal friendship with the White House Staff Secretary who is from St. Louis. He is deeply passionate about President Trump and I believe issues affecting Israel. We have discussed GazaPassage but have had no communications on the topic since the Spring or Summer of 2024. He doesn’t seem to be the person who would drive policy but I would surmise he was a strong supporter of our mission and is absolutely behind President Trump on his position. In fact, other than my congratulatory communications on the “assists” of executive orders on day one of the administration, I don’t think we have communicated at all. Once he’s done, I may offer to help write his memoir I have taken the liberty to title: “Mr. President, This Is An Executive Order”

BEDELL: So… “indirect.”

COACH: If you say so.

BEDELL: Typical. Not sure how you got me to do that.

COACH: Seems like old times.

BEDELL: Let’s get back to GazaPassage’s direct influence. We had international pledge takers, we have a financial model and a “hosting” model that frames the current international conversations. But what about in Israel?

COACH: You want the short or the long answer?

BEDELL: Short.

COACH: We were creating so much pressure within Israel that they developed a security process for helping “our people” to get out. In fact, the process was tested on the predecessor to the work visa project. Now, given Trump’s greenlight, Israel has announced it is institutionalizing the process for everybody. It didn’t get our people out, but it may  yet, and will help a lot of people.

BEDELL: Talk to me about the criticism we have received in Israel and how that’s come around.

COACH: That’s a little personal.

BEDELL: You signed up for it.

COACH: I supported the judicial reform in Israel, acting as the Special Media Advisor to MK Simcha Rothman related to it – he runs the Knesset’s Committee on Constitution, Law, and Justice. Basically, in America, we would call them the “right wing.” We published in the Wall Street Journal a few times and I wrote what I think is the best layman’s breakdown in AmericanGreatness for an American audience. I thought for sure I would get attacked from the left.

BEDELL: Did you?

COACH: No. The right did, stating we were interfering with military operations.

BEDELL: So is the lesson that there are no allegiances in Israeli politics?

COACH: I don’t know about that. Probably more, “you will stop worrying about what people think about you when you realize how little they actually think about you.”

BEDELL: Here is a tough question. Were they right?

COACH: Probably, but for the wrong reason.

BEDELL: Typical. Has anyone who criticized you ever been right for the right reason?

COACH: My dad. But that’s because he was my dad.

BEDELL: Yes. I knew your dad. Well put… Where were they right and where could they have used more “Coaching?”

COACH: Classic. Well, we attempted to be apolitical and not to interfere with the conduct of either side’s military conduct. It’s just not our place. Our main accomplishment in Israel did in fact require some resources so in that way they were correct.

BEDELL: So fair criticism?

COACH: No. Still stupid.

BEDELL: Say more.

COACH: You asked. I took time to work with one of my clients, John Spencer, the world’s leading expert on urban warfare. The guy teaches at West Point. Also the nicest most open person you will ever meet. I can’t imagine what he’s seen. I can’t discuss our conversations for purposes of attorney-client privilege. But we did write an article together on the military genius of Trump’s plan. Basically, I only interfered with their military conduct by seeking to improve it.

BEDELL: The audience doesn’t see the look on your face when. you say that. There aren’t supposed to be grins that large. It screams, “Coach strikes again!” Let’s move on to the future outlook of our organization, but before that. I remember the Biden administration had a humanitarian policy that was largely congruent without organization. You and Spencer took the time to use a military lens once Trump announced it which I found unique. So, where do you see us going from here?

COACH: I think I would like to consult with the entire Working Group, not just you and Isaac, but Adam, Pat, and Antonio too before stating that. We have legal obligations. I just want to say that I haven’t forgotten our participants – the best we can do for now is submit them to whoever’s Pledge gets accepted by the United States and Israel.

BEDELL: Let’s wrap it up. What would you say is our biggest surprise accomplishment?

COACH: That’s easy. Hamas said people wouldn’t want to leave. The entire misinformation campaign focused on this, including what are incredibly disingenuous statements by what apparently is a complicit UNRWA leader. Media reports debunked it. But we proved with actual names, ID’s, direct contact, and continued interaction that they do. But to bring together different sides of the conflict in a letter on May 14th – the 76th anniversary of the declaration of Israel as a state by Ben Gurion is something that makes us feel a part of the history of recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, even though the peoples of the area are fighting over that very issue. To be fair, that’s my lofty exaggeration. Most people just view it as a letter. But it may someday signify the turning point in existential mood affiliation against the world having one Jewish state.

BEDELL: I remember the uber-political people calling it a “Declaration of War.” The military strategy you and Spencer wrote about was front of mind elsewhere. Maybe you are right, maybe there has been a turning point. But that being said, what would be the fastest way to help people?

COACH: Egypt. I won’t elaborate.

BEDELL: We have done a lot of reporting on Egypt shutting off its borders to Gazans. A lot of international commentators note that’s the real war crime. Y9ur job as International Envoy is not to burn that bridge. I won’t elaborate either. Anything else you want to say?

COACH: Yes. When do I get to interview you for your statements?

BEDELL: Whoa! Ha. That’s not happening. Ok, if I let you ask one question and you tell me why you are asking I will consider it.

COACH: Where did you come up with calling me “America’s Most Aggressive Judicial Reformer” when you threatened the Israeli administration with my sticktoitiveness? That’s a lot to live up to. Some judges don’t like that sort of thing.

BEDELL: That’s what you remember? Sheesh. Second, i agree to answer but will do you one better. I will give you two answers.

First, “the record speaks for itself” or is it, “if a shoe fits”…

Second, “even if not, it’s a title nobody else wanted.”

I may have coined it but I don’t know anybody else who would wear it as a crown.

COACH: You might have gotten the last word for the first time.

BEDELL: Except for that.

COACH: Word.

BOTH: Laughing.