In a video that was uploaded to his YouTube channel on April 8, 2022, Palestinian-Puerto Rican imam Ben Shaban praised Raad Hazem, the Palestinian terrorist who killed three Israelis and injured several others in a shooting in a Tel Aviv bar the previous day. Citing a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad, Shaban said that Hazem was a "real hero" and a man who was worth 1,000 men. He explained that after the shooting, Hazem escaped and was pursued by 1,000 "Zionist soldiers" while 350,000 Israelis hid in their homes. Referring to the early-morning mosque shoot out in which Hazem was killed, Shaban said: "He ascended [to heaven] as a martyr, after praying the fajr [morning] prayer." In addition, Shaban said that men like Hazem are destined to liberate Palestine and restore the honors of the Arabs and the Muslims. Imam Shaban is originally from East Jerusalem and lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to his Facebook account.
To view the clip of Puerto Rican imam Ben Shaban on MEMRI TV, click here or below.
"Raad Hazem Is The Man Who Caused Tel Aviv To Stand Still For A Whole Night... 350,000 Settlers Were Hiding In Their Homes"
Ben Shaban: "Have you heard the hadith by the Prophet Muhammad where he described some of his companions, saying: 'One of them is worth 1,000 men'? And in another case, he said: 'One of them is worth 4,000 men.' We have seen this in our own time. There are many examples of men who are real heroes, and one of whom is worth 1,000 men.
"The most recent man who is worth 1,000 men that we have come to know is Raad Hazem. Who is Raad Hazem? Raad Hazem is the man who caused Tel Aviv to stand still for a whole night.
"He is the man who was pursued by 1,000 Zionist soldiers who were armed to the teeth. For a whole night, they were chasing the man who carried out the attack in Tel Aviv. The streets were empty. 350,000 settlers were hiding in their homes. This was reported in the news of the Zionists themselves.
Hazem "Ascended [To Heaven] As A Martyr"; Men Like Him "Will Liberate This Land And Restore The Honor Of All The Arabs And The Muslims"
"This was Raad Hazem. He ascended [to heaven] as a martyr, after praying the fajr prayer.
[...]
"There are men who will liberate this land and restore the honor of all the Arabs and the Muslims. These are men like Raad Hazem."
