Hollywood icon and longtime humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a significant visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday. Her trip, part of a mission to Egypt, comes at a critical moment as Israel moves to suspend the operations of numerous aid organisations working within the besieged Palestinian territory.
Amidst a Deepening Humanitarian Catastrophe
The actor and former UNHCR special envoy's arrival coincides with a severe escalation of the crisis in Gaza. Israel has announced it will halt the work of dozens of aid agencies that have not renewed their registration under new, stricter rules. These requirements mandate the submission of personal details of staff in Gaza, a condition that major humanitarian groups warn could endanger their employees' safety.
Jolie stated she met with aid workers struggling to navigate these restrictions. She described touring a vast warehouse filled with supplies, predominantly medical items, blocked from entering Gaza. "I spoke to humanitarian agencies who are working hard to do their best to overcome the restrictions and challenges of delivering necessary aid into Gaza," she said in a statement.
Winter Storms Claim Lives, Compound Suffering
The political and logistical hurdles to aid delivery are unfolding against a backdrop of sheer devastation. Large swathes of Gaza lie in ruins, and the enclave is now enduring a harsh winter. Heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures are exacerbating the already dire living conditions for over a million displaced people.
The situation has turned deadly. According to the Hamas-run Government Media Office in Gaza, fierce rains and winds have destroyed makeshift, waterlogged tents sheltering displaced families. At least 20 people have been killed after homes and buildings collapsed as residents sought refuge from the severe weather. Ten countries have jointly warned that Gaza's humanitarian situation is facing a "renewed deterioration," with conditions universally described as catastrophic.
Aid Theft Claims Disputed, Jolie Calls for Sustained Access
Israel defends its new registration measures as necessary to prevent the militant group Hamas from diverting international aid. However, this claim has been firmly rejected by the United Nations and leading humanitarian organisations. A separate review conducted by the United States government earlier this year found no evidence of widespread aid theft by Hamas.
During her visit, Jolie met with workers from the Egyptian Red Crescent and other local groups to discuss scaling up assistance. She emphasised the non-negotiable need for safe and consistent aid corridors. "What needs to happen is clear: the ceasefire must hold, and access must be sustained, safe and urgently scaled up," Jolie asserted. She stressed that every day of disruption results in lost lives, calling for winter supplies and medical equipment to move without delay.
As part of her broader humanitarian engagement in Egypt, Jolie is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian and Sudanese refugee families. Her high-profile spotlight on the Rafah crossing aims to draw global attention to a bottleneck that is literally holding back life-saving assistance for countless civilians caught in the conflict.
