Hollywood star and humanitarian advocate Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza on Friday, where she met with Red Crescent volunteers and truck drivers transporting humanitarian aid for Palestinians trapped in the besieged territory.
Angelina Jolie Visits Rafah Border, Urges Urgent Humanitarian Aid For Gaza
Hollywood star and humanitarian advocate Angelina Jolie has visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza pic.twitter.com/dbpH7lObmu
— Blueprint Newspapers (@Blueprint_ng) January 3, 2026
Jolie, accompanied by an American delegation, was received by former and current Egyptian officials and said she felt “honoured” to speak directly with aid workers operating at the crossing. During her visit, Red Crescent volunteers briefed the Oscar-winning actor on the severe bottlenecks facing relief operations, with one volunteer telling her that “there are thousands of aid trucks just waiting” to enter Gaza.
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According to local media reports, Jolie’s visit aimed to assess the humanitarian situation firsthand, including the condition of injured Palestinians who have been transferred to Egypt for medical treatment. She also sought updates on the status of aid deliveries to Gaza, which has been devastated by months of conflict.
The Rafah border crossing, Gaza’s only gateway not directly controlled by Israel, was expected to reopen under a ceasefire that came into effect in October. However, despite the truce, the crossing has largely remained closed, significantly limiting the flow of food, medicine and other essential supplies into the enclave.
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Jolie’s visit coincided with renewed diplomatic pressure from regional countries. In a joint statement issued on Friday, Egypt and six other nations, including Saudi Arabia, urged the international community to pressure Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
A long-time advocate for refugees and displaced communities, Jolie served for more than two decades with the United Nations refugee agency, first as a goodwill ambassador and later as a special envoy. She stepped down from her UN role at the end of 2022, saying she wanted to focus on broader humanitarian efforts beyond the institutional framework.
Her visit to Rafah highlights growing international concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and renewed calls for unhindered access to life-saving assistance for civilians caught in the conflict.
