By JAMES ROBSON<\/p>\n
ATLANTA (AP) \u2014 Egypt coach Hossam Hassan broke away from discussing his team\u2019s upcoming World Cup<\/a> round of 16 match against Argentina to give an impassioned monologue about the plight of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Hassan, who waved a Palestinian flag<\/a> after Egypt\u2019s victory over Australia in the last round, spoke for more than four minutes on the subject on Monday and was applauded by many of the assembled media.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they are not human \u2014 whether they are Arab, European, or American,\u201d Hassan said at news conference to preview Egypt\u2019s game against defending champion Argentina on Tuesday.<\/p>\n More than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, largely displaced and living amid ruins, face uncertainty after a war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel\u2019s retaliation has killed a total of 73,066 Palestinians, according to Gaza\u2019s Health Ministry.<\/p>\n \u201cEverywhere in the world, including in Europe or America, if someone hurts an animal, we see animal rights being defended and the whole world reacts,\u201d Hassan said. \u201cIt has become normal to hear that two or three thousand people die in a single day because of a missile.\u201d<\/p>\n The war has sparked pro-Palestinian protests around the world, with athletes \u2014 including Spain\u2019s Lamine Yamal \u2014 showing their support.<\/p>\n FIFA said it is permitted to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of religion. \u2026 I am a human before being Arab or anything else. My message, through football, is this: Please, just as FIFA\u2019s slogan calls for respect among us, I hope there will be respect for people\u2019s right to live,\u201d Hassan said.<\/p>\n With a win over Argentina, Egypt would reach the quarterfinals for the first time. <\/p>\n \u201cMy dreams have no limits. My ambitions have no limits. I promise that we will do everything to live up to the expectations (of fans),\u201d Hassan said. \u201cWe\u2019re no underdogs. We\u2019re big in every respect. We are a civilization that is 7,000 years old, even more than 7,000 years.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n James Robson is at https:\/\/x.com\/jamesalanrobson<\/a><\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n