The video game “Knights of Al-Aqsa” has garnered heightened global attention following recent updates inspired by the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation and resistance against Israeli occupation in Gaza.
Although the game, developed by Palestinian-Brazilian programmer Nidal Najm, was initially released in 2022, its latest updates have stirred widespread reactions, especially among Israeli and Western circles, drawing both praise and criticism.
A Decade in the Making: “Knights of Al-Aqsa”
First launched in 2022 after ten years of continuous development, the game centers around Ahmed, a fictional Palestinian youth who spent five years in Israeli prisons after losing his family to Israeli forces. Ahmed embarks on a resistance journey, joining a group called “Knights of Al-Aqsa” and engaging in missions that reflect Palestinian defiance against the occupation.
Najm, inspired by his father’s story of migration to Brazil following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, created the game as a means to challenge stereotypes in Western video games that often depict Palestinians and Arabs as aggressors. In an interview, Najm stated:
“My goal was to share our narrative with the world and to highlight Palestinians’ right to resist.”
The “Al-Aqsa Flood” Update
In October 2023, Najm released an update titled “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, inspired by the October 7, 2023, Palestinian resistance attack on Israeli sites. The update includes interactive scenes recreating the storming of the Israeli military base at Ra’im using gliders, symbolizing Palestinian resilience and resistance.
Najm clarified the purpose of the update:
“The game aims to shed light on Palestinians’ right to resist occupation. It’s nothing more than a digital protest reflecting the daily struggles of our people.”
Global Backlash and Removal from Platforms
The game’s latest version has drawn severe criticism from pro-Israeli groups, leading to its removal from the popular gaming platform Steam in countries including the UK, Australia, and Germany. Steam cited compliance with security-related requests as the reason for the removal, emphasizing counter-terrorism concerns.
In response to the controversy, Steam included a disclaimer on the game:
“This game does not promote ‘terrorism,’ anti-Semitism, or hatred against Jews or any other group. It is a protest message against the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories.”
Despite its removal from certain markets, “Knights of Al-Aqsa” continues to resonate with audiences globally, sparking debates on freedom of expression, digital resistance, and the portrayal of Palestinian narratives in media.
