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Mosab Hassan Yousef
Palestinian human rights activist and author (born 1978) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mosab Hassan Yousef (Arabic: مصعب حسن يوسف; born 5 May 1978) is a Palestinian ex-militant who defected to Israel in 1997, thereafter working as an Israeli spy for the Shin Bet until he moved to the United States in 2007. His father is Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a co-founder of Hamas. He is known for his comments on Hamas and Islam, and has been accused of Islamophobia at university campus talks.[2]
Mosab Hassan Yousef | |
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مصعب حسن يوسف | |
![]() Yousef at the 2019 Budapest Demographic Summit | |
Born | (1978-05-05) 5 May 1978 (age 46)[1] |
Nationality | Palestinian |
Citizenship | United States |
Occupation(s) | Spy, advocate, writer |
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 |
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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] Yousef has compared Islam to Nazism,[7] and said he has "zero respect for anyone who identifies as Muslim".[8] USCD Palestinian students and community leaders accused him of Islamophobia, and his speeches have attracted protests.[9]