Kassim Hafeez: A Muslim Who Stands Proudly With Israel

Imagine growing up being taught to hate an entire people. Being told that their country has no right to exist, and that peace in the world depends on their destruction. That’s what I and many others like me were taught.

This is how Kassim Hafeez begins his story on the website for “The Israel Campaign.” His first words are honest and jarring: “I was a Muslim who hated Israel and Jews, until I came face to face with the truth.” And his conclusion? “We are many voices, and we are all united for Israel.”

Kassim Hafeez, now 28, was born in England to Muslim parents from Pakistan. From an early age, he was raised to hate the State of Israel and to deeply distrust Jewish people. As a teenager, he didn’t just hold antisemitic views, he proudly embraced them.

In the world he lived in, expressions like “stop being Jewish” were used as everyday insults. In his home, he regularly heard his father praising Hitler. His heroes included Hassan Nasrallah (leader of Hezbollah) and Osama bin Laden, and he never missed a chance to listen to their speeches.

Kassim took part in Nakba Day events in central London, where speakers openly imagined a world without the “Zionist entity.” He often listened to Arabic music filled with messages of jihad (holy war), and he believed that Israel and the Jewish people simply shouldn’t exist. In his mind, their erasure wasn’t just possible, it was necessary.

A Surprising Turn in a Bookstore

One day, Kassim was browsing the Israel-Palestinian section at a local bookstore, something that had always fascinated him. He expected to find more material reinforcing his beliefs. But something unexpected happened.

He picked up a copy of The Case for Israel by Alan Dershowitz. At first, he wasn’t worried. In fact, he was confident it would only give him more fuel to argue against Israel. He was ready to tear the book apart, point by point.

But the book didn’t fall apart.

Instead, it challenged him. The arguments made sense. He tried to dismiss them, but they stuck with him. His conscience wouldn't let go.

Kassim realized that in order to truly understand the truth, he needed to see Israel with his own eyes. So in 2007, he flew to Israel, the “apartheid state,” as he had called it to see what was really happening.

A Trip That Changed Everything

His visit to Israel shattered everything he thought he knew.

Walking through Mamilla Mall near the Old City of Jerusalem, he saw something he never expected: Jews and Arabs living side by side, shopping and working together.

He visited synagogues, churches, and mosques all operating freely. He saw Muslims enjoying full rights, freedom of religion, and opportunities.

In fact, he realized that Muslims in Israel had more rights than Muslims in most other Middle Eastern countries.

That discovery was life-changing. Kassim understood that the propaganda he had grown up with wasn’t just misleading, it was harmful to the entire world.

And from that moment on, Kassim Hafeez decided to dedicate his life to something he never imagined: standing up for Israel.

Today, he lives in Nottingham, England, and leads “The Israel Campaign,” a group devoted to speaking the truth about Israel. He’s a proud Muslim and he’s proud to defend the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

No Contradiction Between Islam and Israel

To some, Kassim may seem like a contradiction, a Muslim who supports Israel. But he disagrees.

“There’s no contradiction,” he says. “The conflicts between Muslims and Jews are mostly political. There are extreme movements in Islam like Hamas and Hezbollah,  that are filled with hatred. But that’s not true for all Muslims.”

“In Israel,” he explains, “I saw Muslims and Jews living together. There are even Muslims serving in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), defending the Jewish state. That’s something truly amazing, and it shows how special Israel really is.”

“We’re Actually Not So Different”

Kassim continues: “The rise of Wahhabi Islam, which is an extreme stream of Sunni Islam from Saudi Arabia, has helped spread an intolerant, hateful message around the world. It reminds me of Nazi propaganda, focused on creating hatred against Jews and Israel.”

He says it’s tragic that so many Arab countries are still obsessed with hating Jews, instead of choosing friendship with their Israeli neighbors.

Historically, Islamic countries offered refuge to Jews fleeing European persecution. So what changed?

“It’s important to be honest,” Kassim says. “Yes, Jews had better conditions in Muslim countries compared to Europe but they still suffered. It wasn’t paradise. And once Israel was created, many Muslim countries refused to accept it. Some still don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist.”

What’s the solution?

“The hatred has to stop. If Arab countries can accept Israel and form real relationships, everything will change. Israel is ready. But there has to be honest dialogue between Muslims and Jews not just for public relations, but for real understanding.

“When you really think about it, we’re not so different. In Pakistan, people are always late to meetings and most of my Jewish friends are the same! And we all really love food,” he laughs.

The Truth Is His Weapon

Does being a Muslim help him as a pro-Israel advocate?

“People are curious, sure,” Kassim says. “They don’t expect a Muslim to speak in defense of Israel. But it’s not about me. I don’t have an advantage because I’m Muslim. The only thing I have on my side is the truth.”

For him, it all comes down to facts and real experience.

“When people hear I went to Israel and saw it with my own eyes, they’re shocked. They don’t realize how advanced Israel is in science, medicine, and technology. They don’t know how peaceful and open it really is.”

Facing Threats With Courage

Of course, speaking out has a price. Kassim has received threats. He knows that some people call him a traitor to Islam.

But he stands firm.

“I refuse to live in fear. The people who threaten me are only proving that they have no real arguments, just hate. And hate is weak.”

“If someone wants to have a respectful conversation, I’m happy to talk. But if all they want is to yell, accuse, and block progress, I won’t waste time. We need to move forward. Hatred is poison. And the only cure is truth and peace.”