‘Son of Hamas’ warns against Syrian rebel leader al-Jolani shortly before being banned from social media site 𝕏

Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of former Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, whose story is described in the book “Son of Hamas,” recently posted a message on his 𝕏 account, warning about the new Syrian leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. 

Yousef has become a prominent voice in Western discussions about terrorism, particularly Islamic jihadist terrorism, due to his background and involvement with Hamas.

In his post on 𝕏 on Wednesday, Mosab Hassan Yousef warned the West against recognizing or giving legitimacy to al-Jolani, saying it could “have deadly consequences on humanity.” 

In a post that evidently resulted in his 𝕏 account being suspended, Yousef warned, “A new Islamic empire is born; don't feed it, starve it.” 

The former Hamas member, turned Israeli Shin Bet operative, said, “Most Middle Easterners and the rest of the world don't realize the devastating consequences of the new development in Syria (Al-Sham).”  

The problem, Yousef cautioned, is that “the new generation of jihadists is more sophisticated than any terrorist group in the past.” 

He said that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Nusra Front), and has ties to both Al-Qaeda and ISIS, has changed its political strategy, but not identity, in order to lull Western nations into believing they have reformed.

Citing HTS’ efforts to start bus services and resume other municipal functions in captured territories as evidence of their alleged reform, Yousef warned that these activities are intended “to manipulate the international community by appointing moderate government figures.”

“They have patience and are not in a rush to attack their enemies; their new strategy is to build infrastructure, and institutions, and get global recognition towards establishing a Jihadi Ummah [the global Muslim body],” he cautioned. 

“Their new strategy is to create a suitable climate which will lead to the establishment of a Jihadi nation. The United States and its allies should not recognize or legitimize the new rulers of Damascus, no matter how cleverly they are going to play their cards to manipulate the international community by appointing moderate government figures.” 

Going further – and in the part of the post that likely got him banned from 𝕏 – the former Hamas member advocated “eliminating the rebels' top leaders, most importantly Al Julani, before they gain more support and sympathy from a desperate society longing for change and freedom, which would allow legitimate leadership to emerge.”

“Crediting or rewarding Jihadists for overthrowing the brutal Syrian dictator is a mistake, they may have played an important part, but they are not the actual force that brought Assad down,” Yousef claimed. 

“Al-Julani has the potential of creating a powerful Terrorist State [such as] we have never experienced before,” the Son of Hamas noted. “He tends to build it slowly, mindfully, and patiently. This global terrorist didn't integrate from a Jihadi to a statesman, he transformed himself from a simple Jihadi to a modern-day Islamic Khalife, and allowing him to thrive will have deadly consequences on humanity.” 

The former Hamas member is not the only voice from the Middle East cautioning against accepting al-Jolani’s claims of reform.

Foundation for Defense of Democracies Research Fellow Hussain Abdul-Hussain warned that Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, who uses the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, appears to be implementing Sharia law in many of the territories of which he has taken control. 

Abdul-Hussain pointed out that al-Jolani has placed the Sharia-enforcing government of Idlib as the transitional government for Syria, which does not bode well for his promises to respect and protect non-Muslim minorities. 

“I hope my projection turns out to be wrong and that Sharaa has changed and moderated, or “matured,” like he told CNN,” Abdul-Hussain wrote. “I’m not holding my breath, though.”