Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about the dire situation in Gaza, describing it as an "open-air prison" after visiting Egypt's Rafah border crossing. On November 11, Hamilton shared his experience on Instagram, following a visit to North Sinai the previous day, where he toured the Rafah border area and Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) facilities responsible for coordinating humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
During his visit, Hamilton witnessed aid trucks waiting to cross the border, with essential relief items being turned away when trying to enter Palestinian territory. He described Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and criticized the restrictions preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching Palestinians. Hamilton wrote that the past three years of Israel's actions in Gaza are appalling and an injustice to the people, denying them freedom, safety, and dignity.
Hamilton saw firsthand the scale of the restrictions, with food trucks waiting to enter the territory, frequently prevented from entering or facing lengthy delays. One driver told him he had already been waiting for more than 12 hours. He also described seeing walls stretching for miles around Gaza, built to keep Palestinians inside. Hamilton emphasized that standing outside what felt like an open-air prison, all he could think about was getting in to help.
At an Egyptian Red Crescent logistics facility, Hamilton witnessed workers preparing humanitarian supplies, while also seeing essential items rejected, including sleeping bags, first-aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs, and footballs intended for children. He urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire and let aid trucks in, saying there is no excuse for the restrictions.
Humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with heavy rainfall and flooding adding to the difficulties faced by displaced families living in makeshift shelters. According to the Associated Press, humanitarian deliveries into Gaza have remained significantly below the minimum of 600 trucks per day stipulated under the ceasefire agreement. The United Nations has warned about the consequences of delays in delivering essential supplies.
An Israeli airstrike hit Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis early on November 12, killing at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounding around 20 others. The strike damaged the hospital's surgery department, causing extensive damage to the building. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a senior Hamas commander and other members of the group's military wing, but offered no evidence.
During his visit to Egypt, Hamilton was accompanied by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer and toured the Rafah crossing before visiting Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses in El-Arish. He also met Palestinian children who had been evacuated from Gaza and were receiving educational support at an educational centre operated by the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA) in Cairo.
Key points
- Lewis Hamilton describes Gaza as an "open-air prison" after visiting the Rafah border crossing.
- Humanitarian deliveries into Gaza have remained below the minimum of 600 trucks per day stipulated under the ceasefire agreement.
- An Israeli airstrike hit Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, killing at least six Palestinians and wounding around 20 others.
