Mahmoud Al-Sarsak, a former detainee and alleged PIJ member, celebrated the October 7 attacks

Mahmoud Al-sarsak / Mahmoud Kamel Mohamed Alsersik

Food business owner | Manchester, United Kingdom

Background information

Gaza-born Mahmoud Al-Sarsak gained international attention in 2012 after staging a 96-day hunger strike to protest his indefinite confinement while held in an Israeli prison under the “Unlawful Combatants Law.” He was accused of being an active member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al-Sarsak reportedly admitted in 2011 during a Supreme Court hearing that he was connected to PIJ. He was formally released from detention on July 10, 2012 after his lawyer brokered a deal with prison officials. He was featured extensively on the website of Saraya Al-Quds, PIJ’s military wing, which organized a welcome-home reception for him. Nafez Azzam, one of the group’s leaders, praised him as “one of our noble members.” Al-Sarsak initially moved to London as a refugee and now lives in Manchester. UK Companies House records show that Mahmoud Al-Sarsak, registered as Mahmoud Kamel Mohamed Alsersik, is active in the commercial food business through Love Falafel Foods Ltd and Love Falafel Ltd. He is reportedly also the operator of Jafra Restaurant. To mark his 14th year since release from prison, his supporters published praise for him on social media. That prompted a quick review of his social media output.

Our investigation found posts that celebrate, glorify, and justify the October 7 massacre and praise the “resistance” and “comrades-in-arms.” We also discovered antisemitism on his timeline.

On October 7, the day Hamas launched massive terror attacks on Israeli civilians, Mahmoud Al-Sarsak wrote:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When we descend upon the territory of a people, then evil is the morning of those who were warned."

This phrase is part of a famous, authentic Hadith recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Prophet Muhammad said these words during the expedition of Khaybar when the Muslim army arrived at dawn. The last segment—”﴿فَساءَ صَباحُ المُنْذَرِينَ﴾” (fa sa’a sabahu al-mundharin)—translates to: ‘Then evil is the morning of those who were warned.’

On the morning of the Hamas-led terror attacks, Al-Sarsak shared a screenshot of a post by @trikaofficial, a handle used across major social media platforms by former Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika, adding, “Good morning, Trika… Al-Aqsa Flood.” The text in the image stated:

An act of courage in an era rife with defeatism and capitulation to the Zionists. Operation Al-Aqsa Flood represents a new crossing and a great hope; generations may yet witness the victory of a nation that has endured so much. Oh God, steady their footing, guide their aim, grant them victory, and be with them, Lord of the Worlds. Good morning from Palestine.

That same morning, Al-Sarsak also uploaded a still image from a Hamas military media video showing terrorists on motorbikes crossing the breached fence from Gaza into Israel, adding:

The fence has been breached... Victory from God and a conquest is near.

On that day, he also shared a video clip of terrified Israelis fleeing the Nova Festival and wrote:

And He cast terror into their hearts... A mass exodus with no return, God willing.

The phrase “He cast terror into their hearts” (“وقذف في قلوبهم الرعب”) is a direct Quranic expression found in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:26) and Surah Al-Hashr (59:2), referencing divine intervention causing overwhelming fear in enemies.

Additional disturbing posts that glorify the events of October 7 and demonstrate his explicit support for the terror attacks include:

Spread tranquility and reassurance in your homes despite the hardships and pain. Be a part of the battle through your steadfastness, and always take pride in the sacrifices of the martyrs and the resistance. O Allah, grant us strength and steadfastness.

Omar Fares Abu Shawish, the athlete and resistance poet, a martyr on the day of glory.

Congratulations to our dear brother, Samaan Mansour (Abu Taysir), on the martyrdom of his beloved son, Taysir, on the path to victory—paving the way with his blood for his comrades-in-arms all the way to Jerusalem...

Mahmoud Al-Sarsak Eulogized Slain Al-Quds Brigades Spokesperson

On the day Naji Maher Abu Sayf (ناجي ماهر أبو سيف) was killed, Mahmoud Al-Sarsak posted a eulogy with Quranic expressions implying that Abu Sayf died while fighting for a righteous cause. Abu Sayf was a Palestinian militant known by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza, and he served as the spokesperson of the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The eulogy read:

Mercy and basil in a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, O Naji... May Allah have mercy on the masked warrior, Abu Hamza. Naji Abu Saif departs—just as he had wished—upon the path of truth.

PIJ Commemorative Poster - Naji Maher Abu Sayf

Al-Sarsak also posted an emotional social media eulogy for his “companion of life,” Zakaria Abu Ghali (زكريا ابو غالي), a commander in the Al-Quds Brigades’ Central Military Media Unit. Describing Abu Ghali as a “martyr on the path to Jerusalem,” the translated text reads:

Too soon for you, my precious one... Too soon, companion of my life. With all our love we bid you farewell, with all our grief we escort your funeral, with immense sorrow we mourn you, and with deep regret we eulogize you—even though words are not enough to do you justice. They do not equal your worth, measure your grace, or touch the heavens of your status and the heights of your name. They do not rise to where you are now, soar where you once soared, or possess the clarity and purity that you embodied... We ask Allah, the Most High, the Almighty, to grant him His vast mercy, to gather him with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs, and to grant his family and loved ones patience and solace. Our brother and friend, Professor Zakaria Abu Ghali, a martyr on the path to Jerusalem. May Allah's mercy be upon you, beloved of my heart. You have broken our hearts with your parting. To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.

PIJ Commemorative Poster - Zakaria Abu Ghali

Mahmoud Al-Sarsak Celebrated the 2023 Hamas Tel Aviv Attack, Encouraging More Militant Action

On July 4, 2023, a combined car-ramming and stabbing attack occurred in Tel Aviv. A 20-year-old Palestinian militant deliberately drove a pickup truck into pedestrians at a bus stop, then exited the vehicle to stab people at a nearby street cafe. Nine people were reportedly injured in the attack. Hamas claimed responsibility for the perpetrator, praising the attack as “heroic.” Al-Sarsak celebrated the incident, writing words of encouragement:

Reports of a joint ramming and shooting operation in Tel Aviv... this is the sweet news. The news is crush and move on.

“Crush and move on” (أطحن وامشي) is a slang phrase used to express relentless force, destruction, or moving through an action without stopping.

MAHMOUD AL-SARSAK SPREAD ANTISEMITIC LIES AND CONSPIRACIES

On May 29, 2025, Al-Sarsak posted antisemitic imagery on his Facebook page implying parallels between Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Nazi treatment of Jews at Auschwitz. This content is antisemitic and false. He wrote:

Scenes from the Nazi era!! Survivors of the massacre in Gaza Assembly and detention centers in Gaza, Palestine (2025) And the detention and assembly camp at Auschwitz, Poland (1944)

Following the antisemitic, Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack at the Archer Park area of Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, 2025, Al-Sarsak wrote:

Following the success of the Palestinian narrative regarding the collective tragedy, the Mossad is making moves in Sydney to reshape the image and regain international sympathy for the Jews. That is my opinion; we might even witness operations involving the sacrifice of Jewish lives around the world in this context—all to garner sympathy. We may well see such actions occurring periodically, here or there.

Analysis of Mahmoud Al-Sarsak’s public social media posts shows explicit support and alignment with banned militant organisations in Gaza. His posts frequently utilise specific religious framing, such as referencing prophetic Hadiths regarding military expeditions and Quranic warfare verses, to contextualise, praise, and justify contemporary militant actions against Israeli targets. Consequently, his public profile aligns with ideological radicalism and direct rhetorical support for designated militant factions.

Counter Terrorism Policing guidelines classify online material as illegal or harmful if it includes articles, images, speeches, or videos that promote terrorism, glorify attacks, or encourage violence. It also covers content created or published by proscribed terrorist or extremist organisations, as well as video clips, pictures, or celebrations of active terrorist acts. Mahmoud Al-Sarsak’s conduct may pose a risk to British Jews, and these concerns warrant a formal review by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Legal Disclaimer & Public Interest Notice This website archives and analyses publicly available social media posts strictly for the purposes of critical commentary, political discourse, education, and holding individuals accountable for public statements regarding antisemitism, hatred, or terrorism. Content is published in accordance with the Fair Use doctrine of U.S. copyright law and the Fair Dealing exceptions of UK copyright law (specifically for the purposes of criticism, review, quotation, and reporting current events), both of which protect the use of copyrighted material for news reporting and public criticism. Statements are documented exactly as authored by the public accounts in question to ensure a factual record. We disclaim any liability or responsibility for the original messages or any subsequent interpretations.

Support GnasherJew

Help us maintain this public record. Your financial backing keeps this archive online, ensuring we can continue the critical review and documentation necessary to expose online antisemitism and hold hate speech accountable.

SUPPORT OUR WORK