British Muslim TikToker Faces Online Backlash After Sharing Positive Ben Gurion Airport Experience

A British Muslim woman has sparked controversy online after posting a video detailing her unexpectedly pleasant encounter with security at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, challenging widespread "horror stories" about the process. Sanam Hussan, a TikToker from Birmingham, UK, shared her story while fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, but her account drew sharp criticism from pro-Palestinian activists and anti-Israel voices who accused her of undermining their cause.

In the viral TikTok video, Hussan described arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in her clip, and navigating immigration.

"I've heard a lot of stories, horror stories, but this is not what I experienced in Israel," she said, recounting how she and her husband applied for entry permits online beforehand for a small fee and faced standard questions like "How long are you here for?" and "When's your flight back?"

While waiting in a side room for about two to three hours, during which her husband was questioned further, security staff offered them coffee and a cheese sandwich. "It was really nice. Even though I had snacks and drinks, they came over and brought us coffee and a cheese sandwich. They were also nice and asked if we needed anything else," Hussan explained.

She emphasized that there was no strip-searching or mistreatment, adding, "We were polite to them, and they were polite to us." Dismissing the negative narratives that had made her apprehensive, she encouraged others: "If you are thinking about travelling to see the beauties of the world, then say Bismillah and pack that bag because my experience so far has been positive."

The video quickly went viral, amassing praise from some quarters but igniting fury among critics of Israel amid ongoing regional tensions. Pro-Palestinian supporters flooded the comments, accusing Hussan of being paid to promote a positive image. "How much did the Israelis pay you?" one user asked, while another fumed, "You're ruining the narrative!" Others shamed her for sharing a "positive" story during the conflict, with remarks like, "And how will the positive things you write about Israelis help the Palestinian people? This is not the time, shame on you," and claims that her account "harms the struggle."

On X, the story spread rapidly, with users like @Israellycool highlighting the irony: "This Muslim woman from the UK spoke about her pleasant experience at Ben Gurion airport upon arriving in Israel. Naturally, many Israel-haters were not happy about this!"

Pro-Israel accounts welcomed her perspective, with one commenter noting, "The screening process in Israel can feel intense, but it is mainly because of the desire to maintain the safety of all of us, residents and tourists alike."

Another added, "Jerusalem is strong for all religions and I hope you come here again! Thank you for showing this side."

Hussan's experience contrasts with frequent reports of rigorous security checks at Ben Gurion, which Israeli officials defend as necessary due to security threats. Critics, however, often describe the process as discriminatory, particularly toward Muslims or those perceived as sympathetic to Palestinians.

The airport, Israel's main international gateway, handles millions of passengers annually and is known for its multi-layered security protocols.