Angelina Jolie Calls for Accelerating the Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza from Rafah Crossing

Written by: Alyaa Ahmed

Angelina Jolie, actress and former UN Special Envoy for Refugees, called for the urgent acceleration of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, stressing that the territory is facing extremely harsh conditions and a deepening humanitarian tragedy that requires immediate international action.

Her remarks came during a field visit to the Rafah Border Crossing, where she reviewed ongoing efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The visit was conducted in the presence of Major General Dr. Khaled Mogahed, Governor of North Sinai, and Ambassador Nabila Makram, former Minister of State for Immigration and Head of the Technical Secretariat of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work, alongside a delegation from the U.S. Department of State.

Field Visit to Assess Humanitarian Conditions as Egypt Reaffirms Readiness to Receive Palestinian Wounded and Patients

During the visit, Jolie emphasized that the suffering of civilians in Gaza continues to worsen on a daily basis, underlining the urgent need to intensify international efforts to ensure the rapid, safe, and sustained delivery of food, medical, and relief aid. She highlighted that women and children are among the most affected groups by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Jolie explained that her visit to the Rafah Crossing aimed to gain firsthand insight into the humanitarian situation and to observe the mechanisms in place for delivering aid, as well as Egypt’s role in facilitating its passage. She stressed that the scale of suffering in Gaza demands broad international solidarity and serious action to protect civilians and save lives.

For his part, Major General Dr. Khaled Mogahed affirmed that the Rafah Border Crossing has remained open from the Egyptian side and has not been closed since January 7, 2023. He clarified that the closure of the crossing from the opposite side is due to Israeli actions.

The Governor of North Sinai also confirmed that all Egyptian state institutions and medical facilities are on full alert to receive injured and ill Palestinians and provide them with necessary medical care at Egyptian hospitals, in line with Egypt’s humanitarian and political commitments toward the Palestinian people.

He added that Egypt continues to exert extensive efforts to coordinate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in cooperation with international organizations and relief agencies. Supporting the Palestinian people and alleviating their humanitarian suffering, he stressed, remains a firm and unwavering priority of Egyptian policy.

This visit comes as part of ongoing international efforts to shed light on the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to call for urgent global action to ensure the flow of aid and ease the suffering of civilians amid the increasingly difficult conditions facing the Strip.