Son of Hamas Chief Urges Israelis to Confront Gaza Activists With Counter-Flotilla

Few voices grab attention like someone who has walked both sides of a bitter conflict. Mosab Hassan Yousef once a member of Hamas’s inner circle and later an asset for Israeli security this weekend urged Israelis to mount a counter-flotilla to confront an international effort to breach the Gaza naval restrictions.

Yousef’s call was blunt and unmistakable. In a series of passionate social media posts he appealed to “Israeli boat owners sea wolves, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters” to sail in solidarity: not to attack, but to form “a blue-and-white wall for the hostages, for every Israeli still breathing.” He asked that participants coordinate with the Israeli Navy and keep the demonstration peaceful and within designated zones: “No ramming, just presence,” he wrote.

The flotilla approaching Gaza reported to include about fifty vessels escorted by foreign naval ships says it aims to deliver aid directly to Gaza rather than use Israel’s vetted land routes through Ashkelon or Cyprus. Organizers reject Israel’s offer to transfer cargo through secure channels, and their stated intentions are complicated by the presence of high-profile activists among them.

That context is precisely what moves Mosab Hassan Yousef. As the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab knew the inner workings of Hamas. He later turned against the movement’s violent methods, cooperating with Israeli security services for years. His information helped prevent attacks and save lives, and his transformation into a vocal pro-Israel advocate gives special weight to his public appeals today.

Yousef has not shied from extreme language when he believes it necessary. After the October 7 attacks, he publicly urged Israel to consider the most severe measures if Hamas refused to release the hostages. Now, with hostages still unaccounted for and families pleading for relief, he frames a counter-flotilla as a moral statement: a maritime demonstration of national unity that highlights the plight of abductees and rejects what he calls efforts to bolster Hamas politically or materially.

Israeli authorities warn that direct access to Gaza’s shore will not be permitted. Israel and Egypt have maintained maritime and land restrictions on Gaza for years to prevent the flow of weapons to Hamas, which seized control of the Strip in 2007. International history shows the risks at sea: the 2010 confrontation involving the Mavi Marmara prompted intense scrutiny, and a later UN inquiry criticized some actions while still recognizing the blockade’s legal basis.

A civilian-led counter-flotilla, properly coordinated, can underscore Israel’s central message: humanitarian aid can and should pass through secure, monitored channels that prevent diversion to terror groups. Mosab Hassan Yousef’s phrasing urging presence rather than provocation signals an attempt to walk a narrow line between passionate protest and escalatory action.

The approaching encounter at sea will test multiple actors: foreign activists and governments, the naval escorts accompanying the flotilla, regional security forces, and Israel’s own rules of engagement. For Israelis watching at home, the debate is both tactical and moral how to defend national security and the hostages’ memory while still upholding norms of conduct that win international legitimacy.

Mosab Hassan Yousef’s appeal is a raw reminder of the human stakes. He speaks not as an abstract commentator but as someone whose life was shaped by Hamas and who chose a different path. Whether Israelis answer his call with boats or voice, the aim he stresses is clear to protect Israel’s citizens, insist on secure humanitarian procedures, and keep the focus on those still held captive.

Israel stands for the protection of its people and for measured strength in defense of human life. Share this piece and subscribe to our newsletter for more eyewitness perspectives and updates on Israel’s fight for security and justice.