Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a senior Hamas leader who later became a vocal critic of the group, has sparked controversy with his recent statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the Palestinian identity and history.
In his post, Yousef argued that the term “Palestinian” does not represent an ethnicity but rather a “violent political movement” made up of over twelve militias that, according to him, “fundamentally disagree with each other.” He further asserted that the name “Palestine” itself was not indigenous but a colonial creation by Great Britain during the British Mandate of Palestine, which lasted from 1920 to 1948.
“The notion that Palestine was a country or a sovereign state that has been occupied is a pure lie,” Yousef wrote. He claimed that those identifying as Palestinians are largely “economic migrants from other regions,” arguing that they mislead the international community by presenting themselves as indigenous to the land.
Yousef went on to say that the Palestinian identity was essentially created during the British Mandate and effectively ended in 1948 with its dissolution. He suggested that the modern Palestinian population lacks knowledge of their true origins.
This statement has triggered mixed reactions online. Supporters of Israel widely shared his post, viewing it as validation of their position regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the other hand, Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists have condemned his remarks as false, dismissive of their lived history, and an attempt to erase their identity and legitimate aspirations.
