The remarkably courageous Ramallah-born Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of Hamas cofounder Sheikh Hassan Yousef and a former Hamas activist himself, served time on several occasions in Israeli prison. Yousef is also known as “the Green Prince,” his code name per the Shin Bet (Israeli security agency), with whom he later collaborated for a decade to thwart numerous terrorist attacks during the second intifada, sparing hundreds of Israeli lives.
Now living in the U.S., two years ago Yousef published the book Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue and Unthinkable Choices. The book elaborated his rejection of Hamas’ inherent jihadist violence, his personal forsaking of Islam and conversion to Christianity, and his decision to assist Israel clandestinely for approximately a decade starting in 1996.
In the aftermath of Israel’s eight day Operation Pillar of Defense response to Hamas’ latest rocket jihad, brought to a temporary hiatus via a cease-fire, Mosab Hassan Yousef opined about Israel’s actions, the contrasting behaviors of the Hamas regime, and why the latter should be dismantled:
Israel helps the Palestinian people more than anyone else: every day it provides electricity and even the salaries paid to employees come from banks in Israel. There is also humanitarian aid that enters Gaza.
I want to say to the members of the organization, including my father, who are listening to this interview – brave people do not hide behind children and fire missiles. If they had even a bit of courage – they would be able to leave Gaza instead of hiding like rats.
I have trouble believing that Hamas will be able to one day build a modern state. I hope their lies will be exposed to the Palestinian public.”
This [dismantling the Hamas regime] is necessary, but we have to work very hard for it. This is necessary not only for Israel – but for the benefit of humanity. Hamas was born to destroy. It cannot build.
