“He who does not feel them is not a human being.” Hossam Hassan: The West rises up for the sake of animals and is silent about the annihilation of Gaza | sports

Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan adhered to his support for the Palestinian people, calling for supporting their right to life, after a wave of Israeli criticism that followed his award of the Pharaohs’ qualification to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup to the Palestinian people.

This came during a press conference on the eve of the Egyptian team’s confrontation with Argentina in the round of 16 of the World Cup, scheduled for Tuesday, in response to a question about his dedicating the victory over Australia to the Palestinian people and his raising the Palestinian flag after the match.

In response to a question from a Turkish journalist about the possibility of renewing his support for the Palestinian people, Hassan said: “We welcome the Turkish people, before confirming that every person has feelings, and if no individual in the world feels for the Palestinian people, then he does not deserve to be a human being.”

He added: “If any animal is harmed in Europe or America, we see human and animal rights organizations taking action, but when thousands are killed every day, including children and women, in Gaza, that does not happen, while an entire people lives in tents in summer and winter.”

He continued: “At a time when we need an air conditioner in the summer and a heater in the winter, the Palestinian people live in the open, with children who cannot find food, and suffer from diseases and lack of sleep.”

Hassan stressed that his position stems from humanitarian considerations, saying: If no one feels what is happening to the Palestinian people, regardless of their religion, then he is not a human being, calling for the experience of one day in the street to feel what the Palestinians are suffering from.

He added: “When floods occur, everyone hides, but in Gaza and Palestine there is no place for people to take shelter,” before sending a message in which he said: Shame on the world and decision makers for abandoning the Palestinian people, denouncing ignoring the fall of large numbers of victims.

Hassan stressed that his support for the Palestinian people stems from humanitarian considerations, far from any religion or identity, and this was met with sharp applause while Hossam Hassan fought back tears in his eyes.

He concluded his message by saying: “I ask all athletes, regardless of their religions and countries, and through the World Cup, to send a message: Please let the Palestinian people live, as this is all they want.”

After the victory over Australia in the round of 32, Hassan had dedicated the historic Egyptian team’s qualification to the round of 16 to the Palestinian people. He also raised the Palestinian flag inside the stadium, in a scene that received widespread interaction on social media platforms, and sparked criticism from Israeli officials and media.

The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, as a result of the Israeli genocidal war that has been ongoing since October 8, 2023, which resulted in the death of more than 73,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 173,000, in addition to widespread destruction that affected most of the infrastructure and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.

The Palestinians of Gaza have become accustomed to supporting the Egyptian team since the start of its campaign in the 2026 World Cup, and they followed its match against Australia amid an atmosphere of encouragement, despite the difficult humanitarian conditions that the Gaza Strip is experiencing.

Egypt and Palestine are linked by close historical and social relations, which is reflected in the wide presence of the Egyptian team in the Palestinian sports conscience, especially during major tournaments.