Lewis Hamilton Visits Rafah Crossing and Urges Israel to Let Aid Trucks Into Gaza

Lewis Hamilton visited the Rafah border crossing in Egypt on Tuesday, November 10, and on Wednesday urged Israel to let aid trucks into Gaza. The seven-time Formula One world champion posted about the visit on Instagram a day after touring the crossing.

Hamilton arrived in El Arish on Tuesday. He was briefed on how aid is prepared and coordinated before it is sent into Gaza, and he toured the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian Red Crescent aid warehouses. He was in Egypt to witness efforts to deliver humanitarian and relief aid bound for Gaza.

What Hamilton said he saw

At the border, Hamilton said food trucks were lined up ready to go but were regularly not allowed in or faced major delays. "At Rafah border, I saw food trucks lined up ready to go, but they're regularly not allowed in or face major delays. The first driver in line that I spoke to had already been waiting over 12 hours," he wrote.

At a nearby logistics centre, he said items had been rejected for what he called crazy reasons. The rejected items he named included sleeping bags, first-aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs and footballs for children.

In his post, Hamilton wrote: "The past three years of Israel's genocide in Gaza is appalling. It's an injustice for people to be denied their freedom, their safety and their dignity. No human being should be treated as though their life matters less."

"Israel needs to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in. No excuse," he wrote. "I don't want us to get used to their suffering. I don't want us to look away."

Israel's response

Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide and says its military campaign in Gaza targets Hamas militants. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that Israel was delaying the entry of supplies into Gaza. He blamed Hamas for the worsening conditions, accusing Hamas of a refusal to disarm and of seizing aid for military use.

The ceasefire and the food situation

The US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place, but it has not ended Israeli strikes on Gaza. The UN World Food Programme says two-thirds of Gaza's population are struggling to get enough to eat.

Back to racing

Hamilton, 41, drives for Ferrari and is fourth in the drivers' championship. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has won the title with three races remaining. Hamilton made the Egypt visit after racing at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last weekend, where he finished ninth. He races next at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Practice 1 on Friday, November 20. In 2021 he founded Mission 44, a charity that supports young people and works to improve their access to education and employment.