From hate to advocacy: Saudi influencer Loay Alshareef 'very optimistic' after first visit to Israel

Loay Alshareef, Dubai-based blogger and influential voice in the Arab world, spoke to Roi Kais, Arab Affairs correspondent for Kan News about his journey from hate to advocacy, his recent trip to Israel, and his desire to change the narrative in the Middle East.

“I finally visited Israel despite it being a very difficult time because of the war, but the timing was very important,” said Alshareef. 

The Arab influencer has become more visible during Israel’s war with Hamas, and many have seen clips of his pro-Israel statements online. But how did he develop such a love and respect for Israel? 

“When I was 18 years old, I wouldn’t have this discussion with you,” Alshareef admitted to Kais very frankly. “I would never sit with a Jew or would never talk to a Jew.”

Raised as a devout Muslim in Saudi Arabia, Alshareef had memorized the Koran by the age of 18 according to the Jewish Chronicle. As part of a study abroad he was placed with a family in France to develop his French language skills.

On his arrival he was horrified to see a large Star of David in their home, and realized he was in a Jewish household. He immediately requested a transfer, which was denied, but it was spending time with that family that was to change the trajectory of his life. He grew to love and respect them, and they changed his heart and mind about Jewish people.

“I really had this interest of learning more and more about the prophets and when I found out that their language was Hebrew, I loved Hebrew more and more. So, I would love to visit the state of Israel for my love and passion for the prophets of God. Because of the prophets,” he explained. 

He has suffered a lot of criticism and hatred for his stance on Israel and Zionism, but he considers it worth the cost.

“The word "Zionist" does not bother me. When someone calls me a "Zionist," I laugh at them and say: You don’t understand the meaning of the word Zionist. It is unfortunate, Roi, that prophets whom we as Muslims listen to took pride in the title "Zionist," like David in the Book of Psalms.”

He spoke of Israel’s right to defend itself after the brutal Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, insisting that it is a war that could end now if Hamas would release all the Israeli and foreign hostages that remain held in Gaza, and lay down its weapons.

“Our Palestinian brothers are indeed suffering greatly in Gaza. But the responsibility for that is not on Israel. The responsibility lies with the beasts who attacked Israel on October 7," he declared.

"And they didn’t only attack soldiers, Roi. If Hamas had only attacked soldiers or kidnapped three soldiers on October 7 and opened negotiations like they did with Gilad Shalit, there wouldn’t have been… I will say honestly, a global outrage like the one Hamas encountered. Because on October 7, Hamas attacked innocent civilians, murdered people at a music festival, murdered people sitting peacefully in their homes.” 

Alshareef was a friend of Israel even before the Abraham Accords were signed, and now he has come to Israel to tell the Arab world the other side of the story. His visit to the Jewish state is a message in itself, as Kais pointed out. 

“I filmed a very important documentary about October 7,” Alshareef explains. “A large part of it is in Arabic because I want to send a message to my Arab followers and to everyone who has been deceived and misled regarding the Hamas movement and regarding the atrocities they committed on October 7."

Having been to the southern Israel communities along the Gaza border, he shared that he "went to places that are very difficult to access, and I saw the weapons that Hamas had captured, I saw the missiles that Iran launched toward Israel, and I saw horrors, Roi"

“When I traveled to Kfar Aza, I reached Kibbutz Be’eri and I saw—I was a witness to Hamas’ crimes. I saw crimes: houses burned, children killed in the kibbutz. They wanted them to die slowly. Hatred, hostility, vengeance—a completely inhumane behavior. In other words, they put Israel in a situation where it is fighting to defend itself,” Alshareef added.

“They are a danger to Israel, a danger to our Palestinian brothers, and a danger to all the countries surrounding Israel in the Middle East, and to everyone around us," he continued.

“I do not defend Israel and love it for emotional reasons that are not based on understanding reality, evidence, and facts. I am well-versed in Israel's history, I know the history of the prophets, kings, and judges. I recognize Israel’s legitimacy, which is real, and I see no contradiction between being a Muslim and being an admirer of the magnificent Zion.”

“Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel, this is their home,” he said. 

Alshareef’s trip to Israel included some important rites of passage such as tasting local hummus and the obligatory ten minutes in a bomb shelter when sirens went off in Tel Aviv. 

Speaking of his hopes for the future and the extension of the peace accords, he told Kais, “I am not just optimistic. I am very optimistic!