U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) is urging Valve to remove the contentious video game Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque from its Steam platform. This game allows players to assume the role of a Palestinian resistance fighter, which has sparked significant debate.
Developed by Brazilian creator Nidal Nijm, Fursan al-Aqsa has already faced removal from Steam in various countries, including the United Kingdom. This action followed a request from the U.K. Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, as reported by 404 Media. Nijm indicated that the game is also blocked throughout the European Union due to violations flagged by France’s cybercrime unit. According to an email shared with Polygon, Valve cited a breach of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/784 concerning “the dissemination of terrorist content online.”
Although released in 2022, Fursan al-Aqsa remained relatively obscure until it gained attention when Libs of TikTok shared gameplay footage on X (formerly Twitter). The post described how players could simulate being a Hamas operative attacking Jewish individuals in Jerusalem while chanting “Allahu Akbar.” In November, Nijm introduced an update titled “Operation al-Aqsa Flood Update,” which references Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7th through scenes depicting Palestinian fighters paragliding into an Israeli military installation. While Nijm’s Steam page does not explicitly mention Hamas, it features characters adorned with green headbands associated with the group.
In his correspondence with Valve—shared via Polygon—Torres condemned Fursan al-Aqsa, stating that it “glorifies barbaric violence and terror against Jews.” He argued that by hosting this game, Valve becomes complicit in normalizing extreme forms of antisemitic violence and terror such as beheadings and suicide bombings linked to events like those occurring on October 7th. Torres is advocating for its removal from Steam within U.S. borders.
Nijm contends there exists a double standard regarding media treatment between his creation and mainstream military shooters like Call of Duty. He expressed via direct message on X: “While my game may not technically compete with Call of Duty, its message addresses crucial issues.” He questioned why major studios can produce controversial games deemed artistic while he faces censorship accusations for creating Fursan al-Aqsa, labeled as ‘terrorist propaganda.’
He pointed out how war scenarios are often portrayed in popular titles such as Call of Duty where players engage in real-life conflicts using actual weapons—sometimes even rewarded for employing incendiary devices like white phosphorus against large groups. Historically speaking, Arabs have frequently been depicted as antagonists within these military-themed games.
Rejecting claims that his work promotes terrorism propaganda, Nijm stated: “Fursan al-Aqsa merely presents another perspective—the narrative surrounding Palestinian resistance—and acknowledges that international law recognizes oppressed populations’ right to resist occupation.”
As for Valve’s response regarding this matter? They have yet to provide any comments following inquiries made by Polygon.
Despite generating considerable controversy since its launch, Fursan al-Aqsa has struggled to attract more than 25 concurrent players at any given time since debuting on Steam; player counts fluctuated after clips were shared online—from eight concurrent users rising briefly to sixteen—before plummeting back down again afterward. Following its ban in November across U.K., player numbers peaked at twenty-five early December after previously reaching six concurrent users during October’s heightening tensions over Middle Eastern conflicts.
Interestingly enough though low engagement levels persist overall; despite having only garnered around six hundred sixty-four reviews thus far—with just two hundred fifty-seven reviewers playing longer than one hour—the title maintains an “overwhelmingly positive” rating among those who did take part.
This article has been updated recently reflecting new developments concerning EU restrictions along with additional insights provided directly from Nidal Nijm himself.
Ananya Upadhyay is an experienced freelance journalist specializing in investigative reporting on health and environmental issues. She is a college student and contributes to The Right Opinion, she delivers impactful news with deep analysis to inform and engage global audiences.