Pyramids FC midfielder Hamed Hamdan has said his decision to miss Palestine’s current international camp was not made for “weak or unconvincing reasons”, insisting it was connected to principles and dignity that could not be compromised.
Hamdan issued the statement shortly before Palestine’s friendly against Iran in Iraq on Saturday, after his omission from manager Ehab Abu Jazar’s squad prompted questions. Adam Kaied of Zamalek and ZED FC midfielder Wajdi Nabhan were also among the notable absentees.
The 24-player squad includes six players from the Egyptian Premier League: Zamalek forward Oday Dabbagh, Al Masry player Emad Sawaf||||a, Petrojet pair Badr Mousa and Abdelhadi Rashed, Ceramica Cleopatra’s Khaled Al-Nabris and Anas Bani Ouda of Al Mokawloon Al Arab.
In a message posted on his official Instagram account, Hamdan said representing Palestine remained both an honour and a long-held ambition.
“It is a great honour for me, and a dream I have always sought to achieve, to represent our national team, raise the name of our country high and wear its flag on my chest with pride,” he said.
The Pyramids FC player added that he had previously made significant sacrifices to join the national team, doing so willingly because of his love for and sense of belonging to Palestine.
Hamdan questioned how he could be absent from representing his country for reasons some people had portrayed as unconvincing. He said his previousواقف and history demonstrated his commitment and that he did not need repeatedly to prove his patriotism.
Hamdan rejects claims over camp absence
“Everyone knows the truth about my position and its reasons. They are clear, explicit and justified reasons, related to principles and dignity that cannot be negotiated or violated,” Hamdan said.
He added that those principles reflected values held by the Palestinian people, who would not accept any reduction of their dignity or worth. Hamdan also said his love for Palestine was not open to challenge and rejected any attempt to use his absence to question his loyalty to the national team.
He concluded by expressing his respect and appreciation for everyone, while objecting to what he described as attempts to distort his image or misrepresent his position. He said he had published the message to clarify the facts and prevent his decision from being interpreted without reference to its real causes.
Palestine’s goalkeepers for the Iran match are Abd al-Hadi Yassin, Rami Hamada and Mahdi Assi. The defenders are Musab Battat, Khaled Abu Al-Hija, Ali Rabai, Maher Darwish, Emad Mahajna, Yasser Hamed and Milad Termanini.
The midfield includes Khaled Dader, Emad Sawaf||||a, Augustine Mansour, Abdelhadi Rashed and Ahmed Al-Qaq. The forwards are Anas Bani Ouda, Badr Mousa, Zaid Qanbar, Samer Zbeidi, Khaled Al-Nabris, Asad Hamlaoui, Anas Hamlaoui and Oday Dabbagh.
Hamdan did not provide further details about the disagreement or circumstances that prevented him from joining the camp.
