Jalil Houssain, who is of half Palestinian descent, finished as runner-up in the WSOP $550 Mini Mystery Millions event. At the final table, he proudly represented Palestine and expressed his support for his family in Gaza, who have been ravaged by war.
As Jalil Houssain made it into the deep rounds of the opening event of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he had his thoughts on his more than 50 cousins living in Palestine, a war-torn country at the heart of one of the most polarized and longest-lasting military conflicts in modern history.
Houssain, who is half Palestinian, finished as runner-up in the $550 Mini Mystery Million, winning $265,000 – no small feat for a first-time WSOP participant battling chronic pain.
If he wins this competition, he will likely become the first Palestinian-American to win a gold bracelet (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Palestinians make up only 0.05% of the total U.S. population). Furthermore, he will certainly be the first gold bracelet winner to list Palestinian nationality on the WSOP LIVE app.
“This is truly what I’ve always wanted,” Houssain told PokerNews in an emotional interview. “It actually makes me a little sad because having half-Palestinian heritage is something I’m very proud of.”
In a later written statement, he added: “Representing the Palestinian people—a nation that has collectively endured immense suffering since Nakba in 1948, especially in the last few years, the people of Gaza and the West Bank—is very important to me. It is part of my core identity.”
Representing Palestine at the WSOP
Houssain grew up in San Francisco, but his family ties trace back to the Middle East. He told PokerNews that his Palestinian father and Dutch mother met in the United States and decided to settle down and build their lives there.
"They are adventurers. They love to travel... They eventually came together (in the US) and decided to stay," Houssain said.
Houssain still has extended family members in Palestine, where he spent a significant portion of his childhood. He hasn't been back for years due to a persistent medical complication he experienced in 2020. He stated that this rare medical complication, caused by the COVID-19 vaccine, has prevented him from participating in live poker tournaments.
“We used to go there to play a lot when we were kids,” he said. “My father’s side of the family has more than 50 cousins.”
This Middle Eastern country has been embroiled in a decades-long conflict with its neighbor Israel, which has escalated significantly in recent years. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, by 2025, approximately 901,300 people in Gaza will be displaced and face catastrophic food shortages.
When he emerged victorious from a massive field of over 20,488 participants to reach the final table of the Mini Mystery Millions, his extended family was his biggest concern. And when he ultimately missed out on the Palestine bracelet title, finishing as runner-up to Philip Chun, Houssain shed tears.
"I know my brothers and sisters in Palestine and Gaza are suffering endless pain. It would be wonderful if I could win the game for them and represent them."
Houssain also said the Arabic phrase "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to God), pointing out that it is a way to express gratitude in Arabic, and he especially thanked "my family and friends who have been watching the game and supporting me over the past few days."
"We are doing this in honor of Ali, my nephew, to pay tribute to him."
Houssain is not the first player to express support for Palestine at the WSOP. 2021 Team Championship winner Samy Dighlawi wore a "Free Palestine" T-shirt at the final table, and Justin Bonomo, one of the most accomplished players in poker, almost lost his place in the 2024 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event for wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh during a live stream.
Houssain still holds onto the hope of bringing a gold bracelet to Palestine. "It's a blessing to have come this far in such a large tournament, especially since this is my first live WSOP event. I've had a great time and will continue to enjoy the rest of the series. My determination to include Palestine among the nations with WSOP titles and bracelets is strong, and this is just the first of many opportunities ahead."
Check out PokerNews' live coverage for more information on Houssain's amazing performance in the WSOP Mini Mystery Millions.
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