Hamilton visits Rafah aid facilities between grands prix

Lewis Hamilton has visited aid facilities near the Rafah crossing, on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza, to see preparations for transporting food, medical supplies and clothing into the Strip.

After the visit, Hamilton described seeing trucks waiting to enter and said aid deliveries were being delayed or turned away. He also called for Israel to meet its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

Hamilton reports long waits and rejected aid

In a social media post following his tour, Hamilton said a driver at the front of the queue had already been waiting for more than 12 hours. At a nearby logistics centre, he said he saw aid workers preparing supplies, while items including sleeping bags, first-aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs and footballs for children were among those being rejected.

Hamilton condemned the restrictions and delays, saying they denied people freedom, safety and dignity. He described the conditions he witnessed around the border as deeply distressing and urged that aid trucks be allowed into Gaza.

The source of the restrictions was also part of his criticism: Hamilton said supplies were refused for what he regarded as unreasonable reasons. He said he did not want people to become accustomed to the suffering or turn away from it.

Ceasefire aid target remains unmet

A ceasefire agreement reached between Palestine and Israel in 2025 halted major combat operations, but the agreed level of 600 aid trucks entering Gaza each day had not been reached, according to the report. Hamilton’s visit brought him to the Egyptian side of Rafah, described as the only crossing Palestine shares with a country other than Israel.

The appearance came between grands prix, away from his racing commitments. Readers following Hamilton’s season can also see our coverage of his 2026 redemption prospects and his response to speculation about changes at Ferrari in our report on his denial of demanding a crew shake-up.

Hamilton’s appeal was direct: let the aid through and do not look away from the people waiting for it.