Those without sympathy for Palestinians are not human: Egypt coach

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan has once again voiced his support for Palestine, days after dedicating his team's historic Round of 16 victory over Australia to the Palestinian people. In a press conference on Monday, he delivered an emotional four-minute speech on the plight of Palestinians.

When asked about the upcoming match against Argentina, Hassan shifted focus to Gaza, saying, "If there is anyone in the world who does not feel sympathy for the Palestinian people, whose heart does not ache for them—he is not human. Whether he is Arab, European or American."

Despite a 'ceasefire' between Israel and Hamas, Israeli strikes across Gaza have continued, with at least 73,066 Palestinians killed since October 7, including over 20,000 children. More than 463 have died of starvation, including 157 children. Over two million Palestinians remain in uncertainty.

Explaining why he flew the Palestinian flag after the win over Australia, Hassan said it was "simply a normal human reaction." He added, "If someone harms even an animal anywhere in the world, we see everyone stand up for animal rights. Yet it has become normal that two or three thousand people are killed in a single day in a missile strike."

Asked about facing Lionel Messi's Argentina, Hassan stressed the humanitarian issue: "Before I am an Arab, I am a human. My message through football is that people's right to live must be respected."

Hassan, whose team faces Argentina on Tuesday aiming for a historic quarter-final berth, said, "We are not underdogs. We represent a civilisation more than 7,000 years old." He added, "We know we are facing the world champions and one of the greatest players, but we do not fear them."