If you read to understand your world better, as i try to do, SON OF HAMAS is certainly a primer. It doesn’t attempt to explain all of the factors causing war in Gaza, but it does shine a light on the life of a Palestinian man facing a very difficult choice before him. Should he support his beloved, gentle father, Sheik Hassan Yousef, by supporting Hamas, or should he pursue less death and terror by betraying his own people.
Author Mosab Yousef insists his father helped start Hamas to peacefully help Muslim Palestinians. Hamas, while reversing such perceived leaders as Sheik Yousef, became an unwieldy organisation that had no real leadership. Muslim leaders from elsewhere, such as wealthy Syrians, funded and directed attacks with zealous Palestinians doing the dirty work. Mosab Yousef was groomed for leadership in the movement, but never really became part of the inner Hamas circle, perhaps because he spent so much time in Israeli prisons, is a postulated view. He was vociferous in outlining the inside look at Israeli detention centres, particularly how Hamas runs its own sort of terrorist police network under the noses of their Israeli guards. He was recruited by Shin Bet as a covert informant and his reports on everyday life of Palestinians is eye-opening and saddening.
When he converted to Christianity he found his conscience could not longer support the goals of Hamas. As a double agent for the Israeli internal security agency, he informed them of the torture carried out by Hamas on their own brood. The agency reported that they were aware, but were happy to let Hamas destroy itself. It was not their job, they claimed to make Hamas members be at peace with one another. Throughout SON OF HAMAS, Yousef muses on all the factors that cause unrest in the region of Gaza and Israel. He cites that water, a key resource, is being diverted by Israel for its own citizens with precious little left to Palestinians, even though Americans help dig wells and establish other water sources.
He relates why so many Muslim leaders were against peace talks, as peaceful coexistence could spell the end of Hamas. From their perspective the organisation could not thrive in a peaceful atmosphere. Yousef shares his opinion that if Islam is followed to the highest degree, iti s i not a religion of peace but of Jihad. He muses that reconciling the principles of Islam and Christianity is attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable. He asks himself what would happen if Israel abandoned the holy land and gave way to Palestinians. He knew the answer, clear as crystal- we would still fight over nothing, over a girl without a headscarf…over who would make the rules and get the best seats. He claims the occupation was not the blame for our suffering.
Through his narrative, he gives a compelling account of the rise of Hamas from its early days to become a significant player in Middle East’s political landscape. His journey from hatred towards Jews to a profound shift in perspective towards understanding and even loving them, adds a poignant layer to the narrative. His revelations about the manipulation and self-serving agendas of Palestinian leaders offers a critical examination of the leadership dynamics that perpetuate the conflict and hinder any peace efforts. He also addresses the contentious issue of stone-throwing in the conflict highlighting the complexities and dangers associated with this form of protest. Mosab’s reflections on the impact of such actions on both sides underscore the urgent need for constructive dialogue and effective leadership to move forward towards a sustainable resolution.
SON OF HAMAS, written in 2010 and republished, is a thought provoking and enlightening read that challenges readers to consider the multifaceted nature of the conflict. His first-hand account encourages reflection in the role of leadership, the power of personal transformation and the potential for reconciliation in a deeply entrenched conflict. It is a most interesting read, a story well told. Interestingly, Yousef reveals the Israelis not as the good guys, but as less-bad guys. In conclusion, he ruminates if Hamas’s goal is the elimination of Israel, then where to…
