“The biggest terrorist is the god of the Quran,” says Mosab Hassan Yousef, never one to shy away from controversy. “I know [saying] this is very dangerous,” he concedes. Describing the aims of the terror organization co-founded by his father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, he categorically states that the number one priority of Hamas is to destroy Israel.
Yousef had been lying low and enjoying something of a quiet life in the United States for many years after becoming internationally known as the Son of Hamas or “the Green Prince,” but something inside him snapped on Oct. 7, 2023.
“I had a choice to stay in my quiet place or to come back into this mess,” he told Kan News. He felt compelled to stand up once again in a public way on behalf of Israel. “I feel the responsibility and [if] I don’t say a word of truth, I will die every day,” he said.
“I knew Israel is going to get in trouble because the type of war Hamas invited Israel to, it’s a very, very messy situation.” When asked how Hamas had “invited” Israel into war, Yousef elaborated on their strategy.
“Unfortunately, because Hamas was rewarded in the previous wars… Hamas doubled down, tripled down on their strategy of sacrificing civilians, weaponizing civilians,” he explained, knowing better than anyone how the leaders of Hamas think. After all, his father was one of them.
The situation is exacerbated by the fear of violence from Hamas among the Gazan population itself. “Hamas ruled Gaza in an iron fist,” Yousef explained. Resisting the terror group in any way, never mind helping the IDF, could result in reprisals or even death.
“It’s a big war of legitimacy. The failure [of Israeli legitimacy] in Gaza will have deadly consequences because this is what Hamas wanted from the beginning when they took the hostages, and when they used their own children as human shields, knowing that this is going to delegitimize Israel.”
The cost of defending Israel and condemning Hamas has earned Yousef enemies all over the globe. “I cannot walk freely in the United States anywhere without being chased by fanatics and pro-Palestine terrorists,” he said, adding he was not safe in Europe either. ”Wherever I go, people recognize my face and I know it’s just a matter of time before they’re going to get me. And I have no regrets. I’m not afraid of them. I’m not afraid of dying. Everybody is going to die eventually. But we have lots of work to do first.”
With his insight into the dynamics of the asymmetric warfare Israel has been drawn into, Yousef warns about the danger of the sharp divisions in Israeli society.
“If there is anything that I worry about in this war, I know that we can defeat Hamas and I know that we can change the narrative and that we can change it to our favor. It’s just a matter of time, but we need unity. Hamas is counting on division – the all anti-semites and the all anti-Israel, they are counting on the collapse of the government.”
“It’s not the time to let the government collapse because this is a clear message that we have failed and Hamas is succeeding,” he insisted.
He was also critical of leaders in some Western countries, saying, “Many democracies are submitting to the Muslim population in their countries, trying to please the Muslims at the expense of the Jewish minority by doing the wrong thing, by rewarding terrorism and condemning Israel. To surrender, it will have deadly consequences on Israel and not only on Israel, on the Jewish people worldwide.”
“Instead of protesting against the government, why don’t we protest against France that is recognizing a Palestinian state rewarding terrorists?” he asked. “Why aren’t we protesting against other embassies?”
He believes it is critical for Israel to continue this fight until Hamas and their sympathizers are convinced that Israel will never surrender to the demands of terrorists.
“Their [Hamas’] fate is connected to the hostages. This is the problem. They know if they return the last hostage, they know that yes, it’s over. They have nothing left. If Hamas proves itself to the rest of the jihadis around the world that their method worked, it’s going to be the end of civilization,” he warned.
In his view, the best way to win is showing Hamas that Israel is united and determined not to capitulate to their psychological warfare.
“This is a priority right now. We have a lot more important job than just blaming each other and blaming ourselves. We really need to stop doing this. I know it’s a Jewish way and I appreciate it because this is what makes the Jewish people amazing,” he said.
“This is why I trust this nation,” he said, describing Israel as a very special country. “This is why, with all the attacks against me from pretty much everybody in the world, I don’t mind it because I’m investing my energy in people that I love and I care about. I feel their pain because there is no separation. I am Israel and for us to score an absolute victory will put us in such a special place globally,” Yousef stated.
Mosab Hassan Yousef speaks at the annual Jerusalem Post Conference held in New York City, USA. May 22, 2016. Photo by Marc Israel Sellem/POOL
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