In an interview that was posted on October 4, 2021 on the Gathering4youth YouTube channel, released Hamas terrorist Ahlam Tamimi praised “martyrdom” and the “martyrdom-seekers” of Hamas. Tamimi, who played a key role in the 2001 Sbarro pizzeria bombing in downtown Jerusalem, thanked Allah for destining her to be a member of the ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and to take part in a Jihadi operation that killed 15 “Zionists” and wounded 122. Tamimi described her terrorist operations as a “crown on my head.” She described her drive from Ramallah to Jerusalem with ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Masri, the Sbarro suicide bomber, and she spoke highly of the "lessons" that can be learned from being in close proximity with a “martyrdom-seeker.” Tamimi explained that only those who have attained such a high spiritual level that they have severed any connection with this material world can become Hamas “martyrdom-seekers.” Discussing the land of Palestine, Tamimi also said that the land emanates a “relaxing, pleasant scent, as if it was coming from Paradise” that comes from the martyrs buried in the land. Tamimi is currently wanted by the U.S. government for her role in the Sbarro pizzeria bombing, in which two of the 15 victims were U.S. nationals. For more about Ahlam Tamimi, see MEMRI TV Clips No. 7132, No. 3539, No. 3157, and No. 5951.
Ahlam Tamimi: "Allah had destined that when the days passed, and I finished high school, I went to Palestine by the grace of Allah. I went to Palestine at the when the Palestinian Authority [already] existed, and going there was possible, to some extent, especially since my sister and a large part of my family were living in Palestine.
"Going to Palestine was like...I do not want to say that it was exactly the same, but it was like a piece of Paradise on earth. Imagine as soon as you step on Palestinian soil, you immediately smell a very pleasant scent that you cannot explain.
"Later on, I learned that this was the scent of musk [emanating] from the martyrs. There are so many martyrs in Palestine that you can smell this special scent. You cannot explain it, buy you say that this is a pleasant, relaxing scent, as if it was coming from Paradise.
"This is what I felt when I first arrived in the Palestinian lands. When I smelled that scent, I felt there was a story that would connect me to Palestine, a story that would be written down in the annals of history.
"Thanks to Allah I kept on this path, until Allah decreed that I should join the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, and that I take part in two Jihadi operations, which killed 15 Zionists and wounded 122, thanks to Allah. May Allah welcome these two Jihadi operations.
"These two Jihadi operations are like a crown on my head. By the grace of Allah, I joined the annals of history by committing the best act, the best operation, the best path - the path of Jihad. I bless Allah for decreeing that I should contribute in this way.
"When I met the martyrdom-seeker, [Sbarro suicide bomber] 'Izz Al-Din Al-Masri... It was not a trivial matter to stand next to a martyrdom-seeker. 'Izz Al-Din Al-Masri taught me many lessons, without saying a single word. He was companion from Ramallah to Jerusalem, to the center of the Zionist entity, at the intersection of Jaffa Road and King George Street.
"During the ride from Ramallah to Jerusalem, which took an hour or an hour and a half, I learned a lot about the martyrdom-seekers. What does it mean to be a martyrdom-seeker? It means that your spirit, your feelings, your entire self is connected to Allah.
"It is hard for us to live by this in this life, but the martyrdom-seekers' unit in Hamas managed to train those martyrdom-seekers in the spiritual aspect. What does it mean to spend years with your only goal being to strive to train yourself to become a spiritual person, and connect yourself to Allah, severing any other connection to this material world?
"Only then are you worthy of being in the martyrdom-seekers' unit, and sacrificing yourself for the sake of Allah."