“Let the Palestinian People Live”: Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan’s Emotional Appeal Resonates Worldwide

Egypt football coach Hossam Hassan has drawn global attention after making an emotional appeal for the Palestinian people during a FIFA World Cup 2026 press conference, urging athletes, journalists and the international community to stand for the right of Palestinians to live in peace. His remarks, delivered ahead of Egypt’s World Cup clash against Argentina, received widespread appreciation across the Arab world and beyond.

Speaking in Arabic, Hassan described the suffering of Palestinians as a humanitarian issue that transcends religion and nationality. “If there is one person in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then he is not a human being,” he said, adding that compassion should unite people whether they are Arabs, Europeans, Americans or belong to any other background.

Expressing anguish over the continuing loss of civilian lives, Hassan questioned what he described as global indifference to the humanitarian crisis. He said people often react strongly when animals are harmed, while thousands of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, continue to lose their lives. “Please, let the Palestinian people live. They are not asking for anything else,” he appealed.

The Egypt coach also called upon footballers and media professionals across the world to use the influence of the sport to amplify humanitarian messages. Describing football as a powerful global platform, he urged people associated with the game to send a united message supporting the right of Palestinians to live with dignity and security.

Hassan’s remarks came only days after he celebrated Egypt’s victory over Australia by raising the Palestinian flag on the field, a gesture that rapidly spread across social media and attracted international attention. His consistent public support for the Palestinian cause added greater weight to his latest appeal.

The speech received praise from several prominent figures. Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub thanked Hassan for what he described as his humanitarian and noble position. Egyptian sports journalist Ahmed El-Erian called the remarks historic and praised the coach for expressing sincere and consistent support for Palestine. Palestinian writer Yasser Zaatreh said Hassan had achieved “a greater glory than the World Cup” by standing for humanity and principles.

Turkey’s ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Sen, also commended Hassan’s remarks, while former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir praised him for defending the Palestinian people’s right to live with dignity. Residents of Gaza also conveyed messages of appreciation, thanking the Egyptian coach for using one of football’s biggest stages to speak on their behalf.

Concluding his appeal, Hassan referred to FIFA’s values of respect and fair play. He urged the international community to extend those principles beyond the football field, saying respect for humanity begins with protecting every person’s right to life.