Mosab Hassan Yousef was born in 1978 in Ramallah, West Bank, into a family deeply entrenched in the Palestinian struggle. His father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, was one of the founding leaders of Hamas, and Mosab grew up surrounded by the turbulence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From a young age, he was involved in Hamas activities, even experiencing arrest by the Israeli Defense Forces at just 10 years old.
Growing Disillusionment with Hamas
However, Mosab's journey took a remarkable turn when he began to question the methods and motivations of Hamas. While imprisoned in 1997, he witnessed the internal brutality and hypocrisy within the organization, leading to a growing disillusionment. As he later recounted, 'Hamas is a violent movement. They can only express their frustration through terrorism and violence.'
A Life-Changing Encounter with Jesus
In 1999, a chance meeting at Jerusalem's Damascus Gate altered the course of Mosab's life. A British Christian invited him to a Bible study, where Mosab encountered the teachings of Jesus for the first time. Reading the New Testament, he was profoundly moved by Jesus's words to 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Mosab shared, 'A verse like "Love thine enemy" had a great influence on me.'
Captivated by the character and teachings of Jesus, he gradually embraced Christianity over the next year. 'I converted to Christianity because I was convinced by Jesus Christ as a character, as a personality. I loved him, his wisdom, his love, his unconditional love,' Mosab explained.
Becoming a Peacemaker
In a remarkable twist, Mosab began working as an informant for the Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet in 1997. His motivation was to save lives and prevent violence, not for personal gain. Through his efforts, dozens of suicide bombings were averted, and many Hamas cells were exposed, resulting in the incarceration of his own father. Mosab reflected, 'If I, the son of a terrorist organization dedicated to the extinction of Israel, can reach a point where I not only learned to love the Jewish people but risked my life for them, there is a light of hope.'
Living Transformed by Faith
After leaving the West Bank for the United States in 2007, Mosab publicly declared his faith and renounced Hamas in 2008. He was granted political asylum in 2010, thanks in part to the testimony of his Shin Bet handler. Today, Mosab speaks out against violence and promotes a message of love, forgiveness, and grace. 'We must love people—on all sides of the world—unconditionally,' he asserts.
Mosab's story is a testament to the transformative power of faith. His life serves as a powerful example of finding peace and redemption in the midst of conflict, and he hopes that one day, his family will also embrace Christianity.
