Hollywood star and humanitarian advocate Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing into Gaza on Friday to assess the ongoing humanitarian situation. Accompanied by an American delegation, Jolie met with Red Crescent volunteers, truck drivers transporting aid, and local officials to better understand the challenges facing Palestinians in the conflict-ravaged territory.
During her visit, Jolie expressed her admiration for the volunteers, saying she was “honoured” to meet those working tirelessly to deliver humanitarian assistance. A Red Crescent volunteer told her that “there are thousands of aid trucks just waiting” at the border, highlighting the severe logistical challenges in transporting supplies into Gaza.
Assessing Aid and Injured Palestinians
According to local reports, the visit focused on two key objectives: checking on the condition of Palestinians injured in the conflict and transferred to Egypt, and observing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Jolie, who served as a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency for more than 20 years before stepping down in 2022, has long been engaged in humanitarian efforts worldwide. Her visit underscores growing international concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
While Jolie’s presence was widely covered, neither she nor the Egyptian authorities have released an official statement regarding the visit. Observers note that high-profile visits such as this can bring renewed global attention to the ongoing crisis and the urgent need for aid access.
Rafah Crossing and Aid Restrictions
The Rafah border crossing was supposed to reopen under the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. However, the crossing has remained largely closed, severely restricting humanitarian aid deliveries. In early December, Israel announced that the crossing would open only for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza, a plan quickly denied by Cairo.
In a joint statement on Friday, Türkiye and seven other countries called on the international community to pressure Israel to “immediately lift the constraints on the entry and distribution of essential supplies” to Gaza. Strict restrictions on aid trucks have continued despite the ceasefire, violating the humanitarian protocols outlined in the agreement.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have killed more than 71,000 people, mostly women and children, and destroyed significant portions of the territory. While the ceasefire has temporarily reduced active conflict, living conditions in Gaza remain dire due to continued restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Jolie’s visit highlights the pressing need for coordinated international efforts to ensure the delivery of essential supplies, including food, medical aid, and water, to the civilian population of Gaza. Her engagement serves both as a direct humanitarian mission and a symbolic call to the global community to address the ongoing crisis.
