LitPick Review
Consider what it would be like to be the son or daughter of an important and influential leader. Think of the personal pressure someone like JFK Jr and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg lived with under the shadow of their famous parents. Amy Carter. The Nixon or Bush ‘43 daughters. Trump siblings. Or even Hunter Biden. Add to these expectations, the high-standards which they live with day-to-day as they are constantly scrutinized under the microscope of public opinion. And then also add to this scrutiny an additional layer of concern because your father is not just influential and powerful, but he also leads a religious ideology that is becoming increasingly violent in nature… An ideology which is causing you to question your beliefs and understanding about life and those you have been raised to follow. What would you do? Would you rebel against your father and his ideology? Would you respectfully submit to your father’s leadership and not question his motives or their outcomes? These are just some of the dilemmas which faced Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the initial founders of Hamas in 1986.
In Son of Hamas, Mosab Hassan Yousef tells of his arrest as a teen by Israel for illegal gun ownership, his suffrage in Israeli prison, and his eventual release…only to find himself living among the chaos of Palestine and the growing resentment of its people toward Israel. He provides the reader with a front row seat to the founding of Hamas, its role in the ever-increasing violence against Israel, and an insightful examination of Hamas’s policies toward not just Israel but toward other Arab and Muslim factions like the Islamic Brotherhood and PLO. Furthermore, Mosab explores his complicated relationship with his highly respected and revered father, who also is in and out of Israeli prisons. The epiphany Mosab has when he receives a Christian bible in Arabic brings him to see his captors and enemies as well as his fellow Hamas members in a different light and this revelation carries him to a new appreciation for life. As he embraces Christianity, Mosab’s own life takes an unexpected turn, eventually leading him to work with Israel’s secret service to thwart terrorist attacks and save the lives of others. Ultimately though, he must pay a very heavy personal price for his bravery and defection.
Opinion:
"Son of Hamas" is an amazing account of Mosab Hassan Yousef's life as the oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a prominent Hamas leader and one of its original founders. In this book, Mosab offers a unique perspective on Hamas and how it evolved from advocating civil disobedience “to awaken, unify, and mobilize the Palestinian people” toward independence into the deadly terrorist organization we know today. Mosab shares his personal experiences and the complex journey he went through growing up under Israeli scrutiny and participating in acts against the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces policing his neighborhood. The book includes his frank and unvarnished comments about his incarceration in Israeli prisons, as well as his living in the Palestine “jungle.” Later in the story, Mosab presents his honest and sincere personal assessment of meetings he witnessed first-hand between upper-level Hamas leaders, including an honest look at Yasser Arafat when he represented the PLO, particularly during peace negotiations. I found Mosab’s insight and comments very informative and poignant. I also appreciated his discussion of the religious fervor behind Hamas, their interpretation of the Qur’an which they use to justify their ideology and terrorism, and why they really want the complete decimation of Israel “because [they]believed that the land belonged to Allah. Period. End of discussion. Thus for Hamas, the ultimate problem was not Israel’s policies. It was the nation-state Israel’s very existence.” Mosab’s accounts are chilling and very timely considering the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7th, 2023.
The writing style is engaging and the narrative flows seamlessly, making it difficult for me to put the book down. Mosab's honesty and vulnerability shine through every page, allowing readers to gain a deep understanding of the internal workings of Hamas and helps the reader understand the toll Hamas takes even upon its individual followers. "Son of Hamas" is also not just a book about terrorism; it's a story of personal growth, redemption, and the power of individual choice. Mosab’s acceptance of Christianity and how it helps him resolve the hypocrisy of Hamas and their interpretation of the Qur’an, as well as how it helps him change his attitude toward his Israeli enemies, offers a powerful message of hope and serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances, one can find the strength to discover a new and more positive outlook toward life.
What struck me the most about this book was Mosab's bravery in not only sharing his story but also his courage in making difficult choices that ultimately led him to turn against Hamas. I was surprised that despite the terrorism wrought by Hamas, Mosab seemed to continue to stand up for his father, although I suspect that his father was more complicit in Hamas’s terrorist attacks than Mosab wanted to recognize. Mosab showed maturity and personal growth through a willingness to question his own beliefs and confront the harsh realities of the organization and its leaders he grew up with as a child and young adult. The way he reached out many times to protect his father from internal rivals and external enemies was also truly inspiring and touching.
One of the most thought-provoking parts of the book is what is the true reason behind Mosab’s decision to spy for Shin Bet, the Israeli security force? Was this out of an appreciation for Israel or out of his disgust and disappointment with Hamas? I suspect the latter more than the former because Mosab continually refers to Israel as an occupier and the parts of Palestine which they oversee as occupied. Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank is nuanced and simply calling it an “occupation” can be considered debatable given the complicated history of the hostilities in these areas over the years which led to the current boundaries and situation. Although in no way should Mosab’s Palestine perspective taint his bravery and the success of his secret work for Israel which saved the lives of a countless number of people. He must be very proud of his work and we all should be very appreciative for him and the personal risks he took to save others.
I highly recommend "Son of Hamas" to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian situation, and the people caught up in the conflict. This book is a thought-provoking and impactful read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
