A new message from Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan has sparked widespread debate on social media after he once again voiced support for Gaza, just days after dedicating Egypt’s historic qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the Palestinian people and raising the Palestinian flag - moves that angered Israel. The latest remarks drew criticism in Israel and prompted assessments from experts interviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat. Some argued that politics and sports should remain separate, while stressing that such a position does not mean ignoring Israel’s actions in Gaza. Others said such separation is unrealistic in sporting, arguing that these messages anger Israel while encouraging oppressed peoples, foremost among them the people of Gaza. Speaking at a late-night press conference in the United States on Monday, ahead of Egypt’s match against Argentina, Hassan said: “If there is anyone in this world who does not feel the suffering of the Palestinian people, they have lost an essential part of their humanity, regardless of their nationality, religion, or background - whether Arab, European, American, or from anywhere else.” He added: “We all sympathize when an animal is harmed. Human rights organizations and animal welfare groups respond, and the entire world condemns it. So what should the response be when thousands of people are killed every day?” “We live in safe homes, sheltered by air conditioning in the summer and warmth in the winter. We have food and water whenever we want. Meanwhile, children and families there live in tents through the summer heat and winter cold, without shelter to protect them. Children have nothing to eat, and families face illness, hunger, and fear every day.” Hassan urged everyone “who holds authority or influence to imagine themselves or their children spending just one day in the conditions endured by the people of Gaza and Palestine, sitting out in the open under the scorching sun or in the rain and cold, without shelter or security.” Calling the situation “a stain on the conscience of the entire world,” Hassan appealed for support for Palestine, saying: “Please, let your message be that the Palestinian people deserve to live.” Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth accused Hassan of using a global media platform to renew his support for the Palestinians. The Times of Israel noted that he had once again reaffirmed his position, while Israel Hayom reported Israeli anger over the Egyptian coach’s continued expressions of solidarity with Palestine. By contrast, Hassan’s remarks were widely praised across Arab social media. Palestinian Facebook user Mahmoud Al-Amoudi wrote: “For the millionth time, thank you, Captain Hossam Hassan. You are truly a human being. You are Arab, you are Muslim, you are our brother.” Israeli Army Radio correspondent Jacky Hugi described the comments as a natural extension of Hassan’s previous actions, including raising the Palestinian flag after Egypt’s victory over Australia in the previous round. Hassan had earlier dedicated Egypt’s historic qualification for the World Cup Round of 16, following its victory over Australia, to the Palestinian people and expressed solidarity with them. Images of him waving the Palestinian flag on the pitch circulated widely, prompting Israeli social media users to attack him and call for support for Argentina. Despite the widespread praise for Hassan’s remarks, political sociologist Dr. Said Sadek argued that every occasion has its own protocol. He said Hassan had gone to the World Cup to represent Egypt and, if victorious, should raise the Egyptian flag in accordance with protocol. If he wished to express his personal views, Sadek said, he was entitled to hold a separate press conference to do so. Sadek asked why, by the same logic, Hassan had not raised the Lebanese or Sudanese flags, since people there are also suffering. He argued that raising the Palestinian flag and dedicating the victory to Palestinians were populist gestures that generated publicity and social media momentum, noting that Hassan continued speaking about Gaza after receiving such widespread attention. Sadek stressed that his reservations about Hassan’s actions “do not mean agreeing with Israel’s position toward the Palestinian people,” adding that Israel should be condemned for what it has done in Gaza. He also reiterated his opposition to bringing politics into football, as he believes former Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika previously did. By contrast, Israeli affairs analyst Nizar Nazzal noted that politics cannot be separated from any sphere, particularly as sports have become a platform for competing narratives. He said Israel seeks to silence critical voices at every event, and that attempts to separate politics from sports ultimately work in Israel’s favor, while proving virtually impossible to enforce in stadiums regardless of calls to do so. According to Nazzal, Israel would continue criticizing any narrative that exposes its actions in Gaza, whether voiced by Hassan or anyone else. As Egypt’s coach commands millions of followers, he added, Hassan’s messages are bound to reach a vast audience, as demonstrated on social media. He continued that Israeli criticism was unlikely to extend beyond the media, unlike the response in May, when Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly attacked Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona star raised the Palestinian flag, accusing him of incitement and promoting hatred.
