Rafah, Egypt: American actress Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side on Friday as part of a humanitarian mission for Gazans.
During the visit, the former United Nations special envoy for refugees, reviewed the conditions of injured Palestinians from Gaza and assessed ongoing efforts to deliver aid to the besieged enclave.
She was accompanied by a US State Department representative, the Governor of Northern Sinai, and Egypt’s Immigration Minister to participate in international humanitarian efforts and support Egyptian-American initiatives to ensure aid delivery.
During the visit, she stressed the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian aid quickly into Gaza, where many people continue to face severe suffering and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Jolie, widely recognised for her longstanding humanitarian work, has previously shown extensive commitment to humanitarian issues around the world.
The visit comes amid catastrophic conditions in Gaza following Israel’s two-year war on the Strip, which has resulted in over 71,000 deaths, mostly civilians, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
Egypt has hosted numerous refugees from Gaza through the Rafah crossing, providing shelter and support to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Israel has deregistered 37 international non-governmental organisations, including Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), as part of what critics say is a broader campaign to delegitimise organisations assisting Palestinians, including United Nations agencies.
Israel has accused some aid groups of failing to comply with its vetting procedures. However, many organisations have rejected the allegations as arbitrary and unsubstantiated.
More than two years of conflict, displacement, and destruction have stripped away hopes of reconstruction and prosperity.
