Angelina Jolie visits Rafah crossing as Israel suspends aid group operations in Gaza

Hollywood actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip on Friday, part of a humanitarian trip aimed at drawing attention to worsening conditions for civilians and the growing challenges in delivering aid to the territory. The visit comes amid Israel’s suspension of several international aid organisations’ operations and persistent restrictions on humanitarian access.

Jolie, a former special envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency , arrived at the crossing accompanied by an American delegation, where she spoke with Egyptian Red Crescent members, truck drivers ferrying humanitarian aid, and volunteers working on the ground. She said she was “honoured” to meet the aid workers and volunteers and thanked them for their efforts amid dire conditions. A Red Crescent volunteer told her that “ there are thousands of aid trucks just waiting ” at the border crossing to enter Gaza, underscoring the severe bottleneck in deliveries.

The visit also included a stop at El Arish Hospital, where Jolie met injured Palestinians who had been transferred to Egypt for medical care, and a tour of aid warehouses at Rafah where supplies are held pending entry into Gaza. Officials accompanying her said that while the Egyptian side of the crossing remains open, the Israeli side has largely stayed closed despite a ceasefire agreement that envisaged reopening it for aid and movement, leaving supplies stranded and unable to reach civilians in urgent need.

Jolie’s trip coincides with Israel’s announcement that it would suspend the activities of dozens of aid groups operating in Gaza that have not complied with new registration requirements , including submitting detailed personal information about their staff. Humanitarian organisations have warned that the rules endanger staff and impede relief efforts. Israel says the measures are designed to prevent aid diversion to militant groups, a claim rejected by the United Nations and aid agencies; a recent US government review also found no evidence of widespread aid diversion.

Speaking about her observations, Jolie said she had walked through a large warehouse full of supplies denied entry, many of them medical items desperately needed in Gaza. She stressed the urgent need for sustained, safe, and scaled‑up access for humanitarian aid, fuel, and medical supplies, and reiterated that the ceasefire must hold to allow consistent deliveries. “ Winter items and essential medical equipment should move without delay. Every day of disruption costs lives ,” she said.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been described by several foreign ministers as facing “renewed deterioration” with conditions remaining “catastrophic.” Heavy winter rains and plunging temperatures have compounded suffering, with makeshift shelters collapsing under severe weather and at least 20 people reported killed after buildings gave way.

In addition to meeting aid workers, Jolie is also engaging with Palestinian and Sudanese refugee families in Egypt as part of her broader humanitarian engagement. She reiterated her support for the Palestinian people and discussed plans to establish a relief village for orphaned children from Gaza to provide shelter, healthcare, education, and psychological support, highlighting the long‑term needs of civilians caught in conflict.

Jolie’s visit underscores ongoing international concern over humanitarian access to Gaza and the challenges facing aid delivery amid political tensions, border closures, and worsening living conditions for millions of civilians.