Terror, betrayal, political intrigue, and unthinkable choices

Occasionally you find a book that is not only as gripping and terrifying as a top notch spy thriller, but also opens a window to a world that was previously locked.

‘Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices’, first published in 2010, is such a book.

The biography of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, gave me new insight into the ongoing war between Palestine and Israel.

Hamas is notorious as the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization.

Yousef’s rather incredible life reads like a James Bond film, complete with all the intrigues of spy work.

From his youth Yousef assisted his father in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status and power.

From his unique perspective Yousef tells his story, from a young boy throwing stones at Israeli soldiers to becoming one of Israel’s internal security service Shin Bet’s most valuable spys, earning himself the nickname the ‘Green Prince’.

The information he supplied prevented dozens of suicide attacks and assassinations of Israelis, exposed numerous Hamas cells, and assisted Israel in hunting down many militants, including his own father.

Yet nothing is ever black and white, and Yousef’s account casts light on much of the ‘grey’ that is inevitable in any human struggle.

The raw honestly of his story is revealed in his agonizing separation from family and homeland when he was granted political asylum in the United States and the dangerous decision to make public his new-found faith in Jesus.

Definitely worth reading.