“Deadly Deal: Can Israel’s Price for Freed Hostages Ignite a Hamas Resurgence?”
**Warning: Don’t Revive Hamas by Releasing Terrorists**
Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a founding member of Hamas, has issued a stark warning to Israel against releasing the terror group’s most dangerous members, including his own father, from prison as part of a hostage deal. Yousef, 46, is a former Israeli spy who worked for the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, for over a decade.
Yousef’s father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, has spent over 25 years in Israeli prisons and has been arrested several times by Israeli security services over the past 20 years. He was arrested again in October 2023 and is currently being held in an Israeli prison.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Yousef urged Israel not to release Hamas terrorists, including his father, from prison as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and repatriate Israeli hostages. He warned that the release of senior Hamas members from Israeli prisons could “reinvigorate” the terror group and get it back on track.
Yousef, who was recruited to work for the Shin Bet at age 17, sought to break “the cycle of violence against innocent people” and provided intelligence that helped Israel thwart terrorist attacks during the height of the Second Intifada. He has been a vocal critic of Hamas and has spoken out against the group’s violent activities.
Yousef’s warning comes as reports emerge of a potential deal to end the war in Gaza and repatriate Israeli hostages. The deal could involve the release of hundreds or even thousands of Hamas prisoners from Israeli prisons. Yousef has warned that this would be a mistake, as it would allow senior Hamas leaders to rejoin the terror group and resupply their ranks.
In his interview, Yousef also spoke out against the treatment of Jewish people, saying that he was “besieged, insulted and intimidated” during a recent speaking engagement at the Oxford Union debate on the motion “The House considers Israel to be an apartheid state responsible for genocide.” He said that the experience reminded him of his time in the West Bank, where he faced similar harassment and intimidation.
Yousef’s warnings have been echoed by Israeli officials, who have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of releasing senior Hamas members from prison. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused Hamas of reneging on understandings that had been reached during negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
**FAQs**
Q: Who is Mosab Hassan Yousef?
A: Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of a founding member of Hamas and a former Israeli spy who worked for the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, for over a decade.
Q: What is Mosab Hassan Yousef warning about?
A: Yousef is warning Israel against releasing senior Hamas members, including his own father, from prison as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and repatriate Israeli hostages. He believes that this would allow senior Hamas leaders to rejoin the terror group and resupply their ranks.
Q: Why is this a concern?
A: Releasing senior Hamas members from prison could allow them to rejoin the terror group and resupply their ranks, potentially allowing them to launch new attacks against Israel and Jewish people around the world.
**Conclusion**
Mosab Hassan Yousef’s warning highlights the risks and consequences of releasing senior Hamas members from prison as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and repatriate Israeli hostages. The release of these terrorists could allow them to rejoin the terror group and resupply their ranks, potentially allowing them to launch new attacks against Israel and Jewish people around the world. It is essential that Israel takes a careful and thoughtful approach to any potential deal, considering the long-term consequences of its actions and working to protect the safety and security of its citizens.
