Mosab Hassan Yousef
Mosab Hassan Yousef | |
---|---|
مصعب حسن يوسف | |
Palestinian West Bank[1] | |
Nationality | Palestinian |
Other names | "The Green Prince" |
Citizenship | United States |
Occupations |
|
Employer | Shin Bet (1997–2007) |
Organization | Hamas (1987–2007) |
Known for | Covert defection to Israel in 1997 and conversion to Christianity from Islam in 1999 |
Notable work | Son of Hamas (2010) |
Parent | (father) |
Mosab Hassan Yousef (
The Shin Bet considered Yousef to be Israel's most valuable source within the Hamas leadership: the information he supplied allowed Israel to successfully thwart dozens of Palestinian suicide attacks and prevent the assassinations of many Israelis; exposed numerous Hamas cells; and assisted Israeli authorities in hunting down Palestinian militants. His efforts also culminated in the incarceration of his father, who had served as a leading figure for Hamas operations from the West Bank.[3][4] In March 2010, Yousef published his autobiography, titled Son of Hamas.[5]
In 1999, Yousef converted to Christianity from Islam, but did not disclose this fact to the public until 2008, triggering fears that his family members in Ramallah would become targets for religious persecution.[1] In 2007, he left the West Bank and moved to the United States where he applied for political asylum and had his request granted by American authorities in 2010 following Shin Bet handler Gonen Ben Itzhak testifying on his behalf.[6] On 23 October 2023, Yousef stated that he holds United States citizenship while speaking to American journalist Jake Tapper on a televised interview; the statement was not disputed on air.[7]
Early life
Mosab Hassan Yousef (later Joseph, also nicknamed "The Green Prince")
When Yousef was growing up, he wanted to be a fighter because that was according to him what was expected of Palestinian children in the
Defection to Israel
Yousef said he saw the light after a stint in an Israeli jail during the mid-1990s. At Megiddo Prison, he witnessed Hamas inmates leading a brutal year-long campaign to weed out supposed Israeli collaborators. "During that time, Hamas tortured and killed hundreds of prisoners," he said, recalling vivid memories of needles being inserted under fingernails and bodies charred with burning plastics. Many, if not all, had nothing to do with Israeli intelligence. "I will never forget their screams," he continued. "I started asking myself a question. What if Hamas succeeded in destroying Israel and building a state. Will they destroy our people in this way?"[11]
Yousef said that his doubts about Islam and Hamas began forming when he realized Hamas' brutality, and that he hated how Hamas used the lives of suffering civilians and children to achieve its goals.[1] Yousef was held by Shin Bet agents in 1996. While in prison he decided to accept a Shin Bet offer to become an informant.[12][13]
Espionage career
Beginning with his release from prison in 1997, Yousef was considered the Shin Bet's most reliable source in the Hamas leadership, earning himself the nickname "The Green Prince" – using the color of the
Yousef says he supplied intelligence only on the condition that the "targets" would not be killed, but arrested. This led to the detention of several key Palestinian leaders, including Ibrahim Hamid, a Hamas commander in the West Bank, and
In May 2016, talking to a
Conversion to Christianity
Yousef met a British missionary in 1999 who introduced him to Christianity.
In August 2008, Yousef publicly revealed his Christianity, and renounced Hamas and the Arab leadership, thereby endangering himself and exposing his family in Ramallah to persecution.[1] Yousef has also claimed that his aim was to bring peace to the Middle East; he hopes to return to his homeland when there is peace.[1]
Political asylum in the United States
For a time, Yousef was threatened with
On 24 June 2010, Shin Bet handler
Autobiography and documentaries
Yousef's co-authored autobiography, Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices, written with the assistance of Ron Brackin, was published in March 2010.[3][20]
Yousef's brother Ouwais denounced the report about his brother's activities, saying: "It was full of lies; it's all lies." Ouwais also revealed that the last contact between his family and Mosab took place more than a year before the news of his spying.[21] Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab's father, while in an Israeli prison, disowned his son for spying for Israel.[4] The Haaretz report on Yousef was described by Hamas MP Mushir al-Masri as "psychological war being waged against the Palestinian people... [it] did not deserve a response".[21]
A documentary adaptation of
Yousef is collaborating with US-based actor and film producer Sam Feuer in the production of two films: a feature film adaptation of Yousef's book
Published works
- Hassan Yousef, Mosab (2 March 2010). Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices (First ed.). Carol Stream, Illinois: ISBN 978-1-4143-3307-6.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Elsworth, Catherine; Carolynne Wheeler (24 August 2008). "Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas leader, becomes a Christian". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Mosab Hassan Yousef Biography". Amazon.com. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ^ a b Issacharoff, Avi (24 February 2010). "Haaretz exclusive: Hamas founder's son worked for Shin Bet for years". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Hamas leader disowns son - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - Israel-Palestinians | NBC News". NBC News. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ISBN 9781414340821. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Hear from Hamas founding leader's son, who became a spy for Israel | CNN, 23 October 2023, retrieved 24 October 2023
- ^ Kaminski, Matthew (5 March 2010). "They Need to Be Liberated From Their God'; The 'Son of Hamas' author on his conversion to Christianity, spying for Israel, and shaming his family". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Son of Hamas". Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ^ a b "An Israeli-Hamas Double Agent Speaks about Career in Intelligence". CNN. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ^ "Hamas founder's son: Israel should kill leaders after ceasefire". 22 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ Christiane Amanpour (2 March 2010). "An Israeli-Hamas Double Agent Speaks about Career in Intelligence". CNN. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ Gonen ben Yitzhak; Mosab Hassan Yousef (30 June 2010). "Why Deport a Friend to Middle East Peace?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ a b Sherwell, Philip; Nick Allen (27 February 2010). "'I saved Shimon Peres from plot' says son of Hamas founder". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Strochlic, Nina (5 August 2014). "When the Son of Hamas Spied for Israel". The Daily Beast.
- ^ "'Son of Hamas' tells JPost conference: Islam is the problem". The Jerusalem Post. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Leila, Hilary (25 June 2010). "Israel informant risks deportation". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ Mosab Hassan Yousef (14 May 2010). "Shin Bet "handler" confirms Son of Hamas account!". Son of Hamas. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ Issacharoff, Avi (24 February 2010). "Haaretz exclusive: Hamas founder's son worked for Shin Bet for years". Haaretz. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ Harel, Amos (24 February 2010). "When Palestinians keep Israelis safe". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ a b Flower, Kevin (3 March 2010). "Report: Hamas founder's son worked for Israel". CNN. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Tatiana Siegel (4 December 2013). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2014 Competition Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ Debra Kamin (13 April 2014). "'The Green Prince' to Be Remade as Feature Film". Variety. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ Melanie Lidman (21 June 2012). "Former Hamas man to 'tell truth' about Muhammad". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
External links
- Archived copy of defunct official website of the book (February 1, 2014)
- al-Qaida's reaction to Mosab's Apostasy (August 2008)
- Magazine article from Haaretz (Feb. 2010)
- Interview on CBN with Pat Robertson
- Interview with BBC's Lyse Doucet and other reactions from Israel/Palestine
- Mosab very outspoken on BBC Arabic (12 March 2010): arabic 30min; engl. subtitle 5min
- more details : transcript of a teleconference Archived 24 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine with Christian journalists (18 March)
- Mosab wants to create a 'movement' in the Middle East Archived 31 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- 23min HARDtalk on BBC [permanent dead link](14 May 2010)
- Long Interview in Haaretz with Captain Loai, Mosab's Shin Bet-Handler (14 May 2010); Similar to Newsweek Archived 21 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine (17 May 2010)
- Turner, Camilla (22 November 2014). "Palestinian state is a 'fantasy', says son of Hamas founder". Telegraph.