Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton visited Egypt's Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Tuesday to see first-hand efforts to get humanitarian aid into the territory.
A ceasefire agreement reached last year has halted major combat operations in Gaza, but the amount of aid reaching the territory continues to fall far short of the agreed minimum of 600 trucks a day. An independent commission of UN experts said last month that Israeli forces have expanded their control of the territory from 53% to at least 60%, and that Israeli fire along the advancing front has killed at least 196 Palestinians, including 18 women, 32 boys and 11 girls. The World Health Organization said last month that repeated delays in bringing life-saving medicines, prosthetics and other supplies into Gaza can have “devastating consequences” for Palestinians who urgently need them.
Hamilton, 41, was welcomed by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer, who briefed the driver on how relief aid is coordinated and showed him the Egyptian Red Crescent's warehouses in El Arish. At the crossing, Hamilton greeted aid workers with "Assalamu alaikum", a widely used Arabic greeting meaning "peace be upon you", and asked how often they are able to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Megawer said the visit was intended to help Hamilton learn about Egypt's efforts to send aid to Gaza, and the governor's office shared videos of the visit on Facebook. Hamilton, who has frequently posted on social media about children killed in Israeli airstrikes and has called for a ceasefire, said in October: "I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine. I think there's a lot of peace that I'm hoping we get to at some stage."
The trip came after Hamilton made his 400th race start on Sunday at the São Paulo Grand Prix. He is the first black F1 driver, having made his debut with McLaren in 2007, and the second F1 driver to reach 400 starts after his former teammate Fernando Alonso, who achieved the milestone in 2024. In 2021 he founded Mission 44, a charity supporting young people's access to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The visit also came as heavy rain and floods overwhelmed Gaza this week, killing at least five people, including four children, and displacing thousands. Gaza's Civil Defence logged more than 2,100 distress calls by Monday and warned that more than 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapsing. Israeli strikes have persisted, with local health sources saying at least eight people were killed in air attacks on Tuesday, including a father and his 13-year-old son. Recent cuts to aid and food assistance have caused the situation to worsen as people in Gaza grapple for resources.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Hamilton's visit draws international attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where aid deliveries are running far below the agreed minimum of 600 trucks a day.
- It comes as floods and continued Israeli strikes compound the needs of displaced Palestinians, with more than 2,000 buildings at risk of collapse.
- A global sports figure with a large platform, Hamilton has previously used his voice to call for ceasefires and peace in the region.
Background
Gaza has been under a ceasefire agreement reached last year that halted major combat operations, but humanitarian access remains limited and aid deliveries are far short of the agreed minimum. UN experts and the World Health Organization have documented the continuing toll of Israeli military operations and the consequences of supply delays. Hamilton has frequently posted about children killed in Israeli airstrikes and called for a ceasefire.
Key Perspectives
- Lewis Hamilton: said in October that "we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine" and that there is "a lot of peace that I'm hoping we get to at some stage."
- World Health Organization: warned last month that repeated delays in bringing life-saving medicines, prosthetics and other supplies into Gaza can have "devastating consequences" for Palestinians.
- Independent commission of UN experts: reported that Israeli forces have expanded their control of Gaza from 53% to at least 60%, and that Israeli fire along the advancing front has killed at least 196 Palestinians.
- Khaled Megawer, governor of North Sinai: said the visit was intended to help Hamilton learn about Egypt's efforts to send aid to Gaza.
What to Watch
- Whether aid deliveries rise toward the agreed minimum of 600 trucks a day and how access through the Rafah crossing develops.
- Whether heavy rains and flooding cause further displacement and building collapses in Gaza, and how humanitarian agencies respond.
- Whether Hamilton follows the visit with further public statements or advocacy on Gaza.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHamilton visited the Rafah crossing to witness Gaza aid efforts.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Lewis Hamilton visits Rafah crossing to witness Gaza aid efforts”
- SupportedHamilton toured Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses.World news | The Guardian: “Hamilton toured Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza before visiting logistics warehouses operated by the Egyptian Red Crescent, which facilitates the entry of aid to Gaza.”
- SupportedAid reaching Gaza falls far short of the agreed minimum of 600 trucks a day.World news | The Guardian: “the amount of aid reaching the territory continues to fall far short of the agreed-upon minimum of 600 trucks a day.”
- SupportedHamilton visited the Rafah crossing on Tuesday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Ferrari’s Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer talk to Egyptian Red Crescent staff during a visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, Egypt, November 10, 2026 [Reuters]”
- SupportedA ceasefire agreement reached last year halted major combat operations in Gaza.World news | The Guardian: “A ceasefire agreement reached last year has halted major combat operations in Gaza”
- SupportedAn independent UN experts commission said Israeli forces expanded their control of Gaza from 53% to at least 60%.World news | The Guardian: “Israeli forces have continued to advance, expanding their control from 53% of the territory to at least 60%, an independent commission of UN experts said last month.”
- SupportedThe commission said Israeli fire along the advancing front killed at least 196 Palestinians, including 18 women, 32 boys and 11 girls.World news | The Guardian: “Israeli fire along the advancing front has killed at least 196 Palestinians, including 18 women, 32 boys and 11 girls, the commission said.”
- SupportedThe WHO said delays in bringing supplies into Gaza can have “devastating consequences” for Palestinians who urgently need them.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Last month , the World Health Organization (WHO) said repeated delays in bringing life-saving medicines, prosthetics and other supplies into Gaza can have “devastating consequences” for Palestinians who urgently need them.”
- SupportedAt the crossing, Hamilton greeted aid workers with “Assalamu alaikum,” meaning “peace be upon you.”World news | The Guardian: “At the crossing, Hamilton greeted aid workers with “Assalamu alaikum” a widely used Arabic greeting meaning “peace be upon you.””
- SupportedMegawer said the visit was intended to help Hamilton learn about Egypt’s aid efforts in Gaza.World news | The Guardian: “Khaled Megawer, the governor of North Sinai, where Rafah is located, said the visit was intended to help Hamilton learn about Egypt’s efforts to send aid to Gaza.”
- SupportedHamilton said in October, “I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine. I think there's a lot of peace that I'm hoping we get to at some stage.”World news | The Guardian: ““I think we need to make sure we’re pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine . I think there’s a lot of peace that I’m hoping we get to at some stage,” Hamilton said in October.”
- SupportedFloods in Gaza this week killed at least five people, including four children.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The visit comes after heavy rain and harsh floods overwhelmed Gaza this week, killing at least five people, including four children.”