Gazans Watch World Cup Under Fire, Rally Around Egyptian Coach's Flag Gesture

Palestinians in Gaza have been watching 2026 World Cup matches on solar-powered screens while enduring Israeli airstrikes, and say Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan's Palestinian flag display united them.

• Gazans watch matches on screens in markets run by solar batteries, which families carry during displacement.
• Residents gather in tented camps to watch Arab teams, particularly Egypt, due to historical ties with the country.
• Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan carried the Palestinian flag after Egypt's match against Australia and stated that genocide is occurring in Gaza.
• Abdelrahman Ghanem, a Palestinian doctor, said Hassan's statements made even non‑football fans follow Egypt matches, and that they feel "one people."