Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Visits Rafah Border to Inspect Gaza Aid

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton visited the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip to inspect humanitarian aid operations for Palestinian residents.

Hamilton landed at El Arish International Airport, where he was received by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer, who accompanied him throughout the visit alongside a delegation of Egyptian and international figures. During the tour, Hamilton received briefings from representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the mechanisms for receiving injured and sick Palestinians transferred for medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

The British driver did not limit his visit to observation. After touring the facilities for receiving the wounded and examining the movement of aid trucks, the former world champion went to the Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses in El Arish, where he joined volunteers and workers in packing and preparing food parcels and humanitarian supplies destined for residents of Gaza.

The visit took place against the backdrop of extensive operations by the Egyptian Red Crescent, which recently dispatched its 308th aid convoy to the Strip. According to data published in Egypt, the convoy included more than 2,581 tons of supplies, including approximately 1,992 tons of flour and food packages, over 222 tons of relief equipment, and some 367 tons of fuel products designated to operate bakeries, hospitals, and essential facilities in the enclave.

Hamilton's arrival in Rafah drew significant attention in regional media, partly due to his previous public statements on the Palestinian issue. Egyptian media outlets recalled that the British driver addressed the matter during a press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix on October 22, where he called for continued efforts toward peace and humanitarian support.

This is not the first time Hamilton has addressed the conflict. In October 2023, he published a statement of support for civilians affected in Israel and Gaza, condemned the deliberate targeting of innocents, and shared donation links for relief organizations. In March 2024, he called for a permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages, and in subsequent months continued to publish messages regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.