Hakim Djaziri, a French-Algerian actor, has been cast in a major role in the fifth season of the Israeli television series Fauda, set to premiere on Netflix starting September 8. He portrays Saïd el-Khatibi, a Hamas commander who leads a European cell based in Marseille, France. Djaziri’s journey from a radical past to becoming an actor, playwright, and accomplished table tennis player is a significant part of his story. Born in Algeria in the early 1980s, Djaziri moved to France with his family during the 1990s civil war in Algeria. He faced bullying and discrimination in France and, at one point, became involved with radical groups. However, he found a new path through theater, which helped him leave behind his extremist beliefs. Djaziri later joined the Algerian national table tennis team and competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. For his role in Fauda, Djaziri had to learn English and Middle Eastern Arabic, as his native Algerian Arabic was not appropriate for the character. The show’s writers also adjusted his character’s background to include a connection to Algiers before he moved to Marseille. The fifth season was filmed in Budapest and Israel, and the script was updated to reflect the events of October 7, which refers to the Hamas attack on Israel that occurred on that date in 2023. Djaziri’s involvement in the series has sparked debate. Some critics accuse him of participating in a “propaganda series,” arguing that his role might support extremist narratives. Djaziri, however, insists that his participation is a message of peace and a demonstration that people from diverse backgrounds can collaborate and create art together.