Game Inspired by October 7 Hamas Attack Removed Following Police Appeal

Thursday 28 November 2024 - 10:03

A computer game, which enabled players to simulate aspects of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has been pulled from a popular gaming platform in the United Kingdom after a request by counterterrorism police. The game, titled Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, originally released in 2022, allowed players to embody the character of Ahmad al-Falastini, a fictional Palestinian student who seeks revenge against Israeli soldiers after they tortured him and killed his family.

In early October, an updated version called Operation al-Aqsa Flood, named after the Hamas-led operation on the same date, was launched on Steam. One of the cut scenes featured the protagonist infiltrating an Israeli military base in a manner reminiscent of the actual October 7 incursions, using a motorized hang glider and wearing a green scarf, the color symbolizing Hamas. The scene shows violent combat, including the execution of unarmed soldiers.

The game was removed from Steam in the UK following an email exchange between the game's distributor and the platform’s developer, Nidal Nijm. Valve Corporation, which operates Steam, confirmed it had been contacted by the Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, but did not provide further details. The email from Valve explained that it had to comply with regional authorities’ content regulations. While the game remains available on Steam in many countries, it faces restrictions in Germany and Australia due to age-related content regulations.

The removal follows increasing concerns over content that could potentially incite violence or spread extremist ideologies. Despite its availability in several countries, the game's controversial nature has sparked debate over the line between artistic expression, political statement, and responsible content moderation within the gaming industry.