Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices

Gripping Story

"Son of Hamas" by Mosab Hasson Yousef is a gripping autobiography of a man who is caught between his own morality and what is expected of him by his community. Mosab is the son of a Hamas leader who is caught and jailed by the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security services). After gaining his trust, the shin bet asks Mosab to work for them, as a double agent, which he did superbly.

Toward the end of the Century, Mosab encountered a British pilgrim who invited him to a class about Christianity. Always curious and obviously and intelligent fellow, Mosab went and was slowly indoctrinated into the teachings of Jesus. In the following months, along with his intelligence work, he slowly abandoned the religion he inherited towards the one he found.

Mosab worked for Israel for a decade, from 1997 to 2007, in deep cover and gaining the trust of Hamas leadership mainly due to the position of his father as well as help from the shin bet. During those years Mosab helped capture numerous terrorists, stop suicide bombers, prevent assassinations, was an endless fountain of valuable intelligence information and last but certainly not least, kept his father out of jail. Many of the lives he helped save are Israelis but countless more are Palestinians.

There are several fascinating aspects in this book. Mosab describes the inner workings, or rather the lack-of, of the Hamas. As the son of one of the founders, Mosab was up to his neck in Middle East politics and intrigue which gave him a unique position and fresh views which most people outside the Middle East, or even outside his standing, did not get to hear. Through his eyes it is understandable how the cycle of violence could get so much out of control and how people, who would never hurt a fly, suddenly become blood thirsty.

There are no good guys and bad guys in this book. Granted, Mosab portrays the Israelis as the "less bad" guys but neither side is flexible enough for a Middle East solution to actually work. The cycle of violence, an eye-for-an-eye-for-an-eye. will continue infinitely because there is an ideological difference between the sides, and a war of ideas cannot be won with tanks or suicide bombs. Mosab found that the Israelis have a healthier respect for life than he thought which is understandable since he has been on the receiving end of Israel's wrath since birth - however Israel is still willing to torture and kill to further their agenda.

With all the religious overtones of the book, I never felt preached to, or that Mosab was trying to push Christianity down my throat. Quite the opposite, he clearly states that religions is not the problem, nor is it the solution. Mosab realizes that the Palestinians are oppressed by their own people as much as they are by Israel and that both sides are manipulated by power hungry mongrels who would let people suffer endlessly just so they could enrich themselves.

This is a gripping story, well told and expertly written. The unique perspective this book provides is interesting and enlightening. It seemed that Mosab was writing the book for himself and for his father, and less for the reader - which I found to be very personal and a great way to tell the story. This book, even though short, is well worth reading.

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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Scary insight

First, the author sets the stage, explaining the relationships between the various Palestinan forces behind the conflict between Israel and Palestine, dating back to Ishmael being cast away by his father Abraham. His conversion to Christianity forms the basis for his ultimate solution for this historical conflict. As an agent for Israeli intelligence striving to diminish the terrorist activities and resulting military reprisals by Israel he walked the line between being killed by either side. Thought provoking for us all.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

an amazing book

A very intense book that captures your attention and pulls at your emotions. Each chapter reveals the amazing courage and transformation of the brave young writer. It's a book filled with raw courage, truth, and heartache. It's an amazing read.

Incredible!

Incredible read! Would recommend it to anyone. It was truly astonishing to read from an insiders point of view, as opposed to watching various forms of media/news in which you really can never tell what is fact or fiction. Mosab is incredibly brave for bringing his story forward and I can only hope that his tales and words will inspire the world to look deeper into the real conflicts of the world, and to move towards peace.

an inside view of hamas

The author brings us inside hamas to reveal the truth -- it is an organization driven be illogical unattainable goals and its leadership is driven by greed, corruption and power. Its actions are given legitimacy by a cruel and hateful god that demands the destruction of all that is not islam. The great tragedy is that the people suffer from decisions of their leaders who are more interested in maintaining power and wealth than finding peace and prosperity for their people.

best book i've read in a long time

Son of Hamas was written by Mosab Hassan Yousef, the oldest son of one of the founders of the Hamas Terror Organization. The author shares his story as an eye-witness to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his voyage out of the terrorism and torment of his environment. Yousef was groomed to follow in his father's footsteps in the Muslim faith and in the Hamas group. Instead - he rejected the teachings of hate and violence in his family and community. He also, eventually, came in contact with the teachings of Christ. Once he learned about "loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you" he fully embraced it.

I really can't describe this book well enough to do it justice. It is so very well written and the quality of subject matter is really interesting. It reads like an espionage thriller in many ways - but it's all true. I didn't want it to end. It isn't an anti-Muslim or anti-Israel or anti-Palestinian rant. It isn't loaded with stereotypes or any hateful intolerance for the beliefs of others. It is just a really good book that easily explains much of the original reasons for such unrest in Israel and it outlines some of the reasons that there is still no peace there. The author also shares his struggles with the faith of his fathers and his conversion to Christianity. I am giving it five stars and I recommend it to any adult looking for a good book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishing Company. I am not required to submit a positive review for any book.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices!

Mosab begins his book with a letter to his family, acknowledging the pain, deep wounds, and separation he has caused by his choices. Had he stayed and become a terrorist, he would have gained the status of hero, dedicated to his faith, family and nation. But he does not think he would have been much of a hero, based on the Lord's commands he now holds dearly. Instead, he is now considered a traitor in their eyes, bringing shame instead of pride. Once a royal prince, he is now a stranger in a foreign country, fighting loneliness and darkness. But saving even one innocent human life brings him hope.

Son of Hamas is a compelling, first-person account of young Mosab's touching, difficult life as he watched his father being imprisoned over and over while he was still a young child, and his subsequent responsibility as the eldest son to care for the family. He always held a deep love and respect for his father's ideology at the 'bottom rung of the ladder.'

Mosab describes what life is like in what is considered Israeli-occupied territories-the horrors of terrorist activities, suicide bombings, imprisonment, etc., with very real and very raw emotions. He divulges his own behind-the-scenes involvement with Hamas, starting out innocently by throwing rocks. His vivid descriptions about dealings with top Middle Eastern leaders give the reader the impression of being there with him, yet sitting safely at home. He goes on to elaborates about the difficult choices he had to make as a young teen and young man, and how it changed his life, family, history, and nation-heart-wrenching decisions.

Mosab exposes information known only by a few individuals, but he does it for the greater good of all nations involved. That takes courage, but he did it because he believed in Jesus' teaching of "loving your enemies."

As a wife/mother, I can hardly imagine the turmoil of not only watching my husband sent to prison, but to watch my son endure the fear of and engagement in terrorist activities, all the while keeping things secret.

In his postscript, he admonishes Christians to love people unconditionally in order to represent Jesus to the world. A deep longing for this freedom is at the heart of his story.

I believe this is a book that should be read by our top government officials (our President on down) to help them understand the Middle Eastern mindset, as well as assist in working through the terrorism issues throughout this section of the world and worldwide.

I greatly appreciated his glossary and time line at the end of his book. To learn more information, news and updates from Mosab Hassan Yousef, please visit here.

This book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., in exchange for my honest review.

really good

very good

A must-read book

I was interested in learning about the son of a terrorist who turned to Christ. What I also got was a brief history that related the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis in a way that no news story or interview could describe. I was terrified and inspired by Yousef's courage and struggle. Most of all, I was left encouraged and strengthened in my own walk with Christ.

Unusual autobiography and unique insight on Middle East, in one book.

This book is unusual for several reasons. First, the life story of the author ( a member of high-ranking Hamas family who has turned against it) by itself is obviously both informative and thought provoking. Second, you probably won't find anything else written by someone who actually is or was in Hamas, except some blurbs of basic propaganda here and there. Third, the author in his writing seems to have neither unconditional hate nor unconditional loyalty to either side in Arab-Israeli conflict - unique position for an insider. The book is well written and easy to read; some previous knowledge of region and history is helpful but not required to understand it. Perhaps not the statements in the book are the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but lots sounds reliable and consistant. It'll be useful to all readers regardless of the side in the conflict they support (if any) . The weekness of the book ( in my opinion) is inherent to all autobiographies: authors tendency, conscious or subconscious, to try to make himself, his family and fraction look better and more important. I divide books in categories of "Buy and Keep" (BK), "Read a Library Copy " (RLC), and "Once-I-Put-it-Down-I-Couldn't-Pick-it-Up (OIPD-ICPU). I gave this one the BK rating.

Best New Book

Son of Hamas is easily one of the best books I have read recently. I recommend this book to...everyone!

Take the time to read this

Knowing little about the basis for the conflict in the Middle East, this book gave me a good understanding of the causes and the emotions involved in the conflict. I think that the author does a good job of not making either side out to be the good guy or bad guy. We all have things we feel passionate about. This book does a good job of showing that passion and how the passion can cloud a person's judgment. This author tells about how he was acquainted with people on both sides of the issue and how that personal relationship changed his perspective on the issues. I am a firm believer that once you get to know someone personally, it gives you a better understanding of who he/she is and what he/she believes. I think that is a valuable lesson from this book. Whatever preconceived notions I may have about a certain group of people are often changed when getting to know someone in that group personally. Whether it be race, religion, ethnic background, education, etc. seeing someone as a human being first changes the way you look at him/her. I think this author does well to describe his Christian believes as someone who does not judge from the outside. If more people were like this author, I believe the world would be a better place.

Excellent read, difficult to put it down

The book describes the author's trials on many fronts, ranging from his relationship with his family, his struggles reconciling the actions of various Middle Eastern political and religious groups, and his views on spirituality. Yousef's description of his life is a roller coaster ride of complex personal decisions, imprisonments, espionage, and spiritual dichotomies. I found that the book exposed my own gross ignorance about the situation in the Middle East, and I feel that reading this interesting book gave me more of an insight and education about the subject than thirty years of news reports ever did. Highly recommended.

I quite literally could not put it down

The first night I started reading this book, I read 200 pages without stopping. I had to force myself to go to bed as I had to wake up very early. This book sheds a lot of light on the Palestinian/Israeli issue, explains partially why there is such animosity, and is as good as a thriller as a history book. The author's emotion clearly comes through in his account of experiences. This does not bash Israel or Palestine, but exposes the good and the evil of both points of view.
There is a great deal of information that was not in the news. It also sheds light on some things that did make the news. I would recommend any political science student to read this. I would also recommend this book to any Christian hoping to strengthen their faith.
My only complaint (and it is a small one) is that he does get somewhat preachy near the end. However, he is not truly preaching as he is sharing the answers he found. I'm not sure why there isn't an Oprah book club sticker on this.
As far as the writing, the author manages to balance intricate historical information with vivid, gripping images. The author comes across showing his own personal pain and does not attempt to write propoganda.

Unique and very personal insight into a complicated geopolitical situation which is all too often over-simplified

There cannot be a more "insider" position for someone to have written from on this riveting tale about the Israel-Palestine situation. It illuminates the complexities of the relationships in the region, not just Jew-Arab but Arab-Arab and Jew-Jew, which shows how difficult it will be to find a permanent solution, when the "two" sides are not even united amongst themselves. The book reads like a thriller but with the added spice of depicting real events and people; coupled with this is the human aspect of the author's own guilt (and attempts at seeking redemption and forgiveness) at having done things that he felt were to the benefit of saving lives but he knows his family and friends see as traitorous. In the end, his support is in the form of Jesus and Christianity; who am I to knock down his crux when he has been through so much but it seems a shame that he has moved to support from another religion, which is itself bathed in centuries of cruelty, bloodshed, and crusades in the very part of the world that the author hails from. That said, one of the best books I have read in a very long time.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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