Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas co-founder, expressed his dismay and shock at college protesters whom he believes are misguided and misinformed about the issues surrounding the conflict. Yousef, known as “the Green Prince,” defected to Israel in 1997 and worked as an undercover agent before moving to the United States. He has been vocal in his criticism of Hamas, calling them a terrorist group masquerading as a political party and warning against bending to their demands. Yousef believes that protesters advocating on behalf of Hamas do not understand the situation and are making it worse by sending the wrong messages.
After the October 7 attack, some argued that Hamas’s actions were justified in defense of the Palestinian people due to their treatment at the hands of Israel. However, Yousef refutes these claims by pointing out that Israel left the Gaza Strip almost 20 years ago and that Hamas has been governing with an iron fist ever since. He asserts that the blockade on Gaza was a security measure due to Hamas’s refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Yousef denounces Hamas for their use of violence and terrorism as their primary methods to achieve political and religious goals, questioning what good could come from a group that indiscriminately kills people.
Yousef spoke alongside Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, who raised concerns about protesters “weaponizing” the First Amendment to call for the genocide or mass murder of the Jewish community within the United States. Diker stressed the importance of enforcing Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and holding higher education institutions accountable for codes of conduct to ensure the safety of Jewish students and others who support the Jewish and democratic state of Israel. The focus was on preventing physical danger and violence on campuses in the United States.
Yousef emphasized that Hamas is a designated terrorist group in the United States and lamented that some lawmakers fail to recognize this distinction. He believes that the misguided actions of protesters and the failure to stand firmly against terrorism only serve to complicate the situation further. By advocating on behalf of Hamas without understanding the true nature of the group and its actions, protesters are inadvertently aiding a terrorist organization. Yousef called for a fundamental approach to dealing with the issue, stating that Hamas’s violent methods and commitment to destruction make them inherently dangerous and problematic.
In response to the protests and pressure in Congress calling for an end to the actions in Gaza before Hamas is eliminated, Yousef warned against appeasing terrorists. He believes that sending the wrong messages only emboldens groups like Hamas and portrays tolerance as weakness. By standing firmly against terrorism and holding groups like Hamas accountable for their actions, the potential for peace and stability in the region can be strengthened. Yousef’s firsthand experience with Hamas and his understanding of their tactics give weight to his warnings about the dangers of supporting groups that rely on violence and destruction to achieve their goals.
