In November 2023, Palestinian-Brazilian developer Nidal Najm announced a new update for his video game Knights of Al-Aqsa Mosque: Defenders of Al-Aqsa, originally released in 2022. The update, titled Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, draws inspiration from the October 7, 2023, operation led by Palestinian resistance. The update has gained significant attention among pro-Palestinian supporters but has also faced sharp criticism and bans in Western countries, including the UK.

The game offers a rare perspective in mainstream gaming, showcasing Palestinian armed resistance against Israeli occupation while challenging stereotypes that frequently depict Arabs as terrorists. Its protagonist, Ahmed, is a fictional Palestinian student who joins a resistance movement after losing his family in Israeli airstrikes.

Najm highlights the stark contrast between Knights of Al-Aqsa and Western blockbuster games like Call of Duty, which glorify US military interventions and often vilify Arabs. Despite its popularity in the US and China, British authorities recently banned the game, labeling it "terrorist propaganda". Najm criticized this double standard, noting the unchallenged status of games that depict Middle Eastern civilians as expendable.

The update integrates real-world events, such as the Gaza siege, violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and settler crimes, presenting the Palestinian narrative to a global audience. However, it has faced bans in Germany and Australia, reflecting a broader Western bias against pro-Palestinian narratives. Critics argue that laws meant to combat terrorism are being weaponized to silence dissenting voices that challenge the legitimacy of Israeli occupation.

Najm's work is more than a game; it is a bold artistic statement that questions the acceptance of US and Israeli military actions while denying Palestinians their right to resistance. The banning of Knights of Al-Aqsa exposes a colonial framework in Western media, where games celebrating imperial violence are lauded, but those amplifying Palestinian struggles are censored.

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