Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton visited the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday to observe the coordination of humanitarian aid shipments entering the Gaza Strip.
The visit, which included stops at Egyptian Red Crescent logistics warehouses in El Arish, provided the seven-time world champion with an opportunity to see how essential supplies are organized and prepared for transport into the enclave.
North Sinai Governor Dr Khaled Megawer welcomed Hamilton at El Arish International Airport, according to a statement published by the North Sinai Governorate. Officials in North Sinai reported that the driver was specifically briefed on the logistics of how international aid is coordinated before being sent across the border.
Lewis Hamilton visits Egypt’s Rafah crossing and Gaza aid
The Ferrari driver’s trip comes as international concerns mount over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where much of the population remains in tents following a two-year campaign that began after the October 7, 2023, attacks. A ceasefire agreement reached last year has halted major combat operations, yet aid levels remain below the agreed-upon minimum of 600 trucks per day.
According to an independent commission of UN experts, Israeli forces have continued to advance, expanding their control from 53% to at least 60% of the territory. The commission also reported that ongoing Israeli fire along the front has resulted in the deaths of at least 196 Palestinians, including 18 women, 32 boys, and 11 girls.
Hamilton greets aid workers at the Rafah crossing
Hamilton, 41, who has frequently used his platform to advocate for humanitarian causes, greeted aid workers at the crossing with the Arabic phrase Assalamu alaikum,
meaning peace be upon you.
He shook hands with officials and volunteers during the tour. In January, Hamilton visited an aid packaging site dedicated to the enclave, describing the experience as life-changing.
He noted at the time, It can be so easy to feel hopeless and like there’s nothing we can do to help. I thought that feeling of hopelessness would’ve been what I took away from my visit but it wasn’t.
During a previous appearance ahead of the United States Grand Prix in October, Hamilton addressed the ongoing conflicts in the region, stating: 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 that at some stage we get to.
Hamilton continues his long history of humanitarian engagement
This is not Hamilton’s first engagement with relief operations in the territory. In December 2025, he traveled to Jordan with the British Red Cross to meet with volunteers from the Jordan and Palestine Red Crescent societies.
During that trip, he also visited a hospital providing care to medical evacuees from Gaza. His commitment to social causes is further evidenced by his 2021 founding of Mission 44, a charity aimed at supporting young people.
Hamilton’s visit to Egypt follows his participation in the São Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, where he marked his 400th race start. He is only the second driver to achieve this milestone, following his former teammate Fernando Alonso, who reached the mark in 2024.
He is expected to return to the Middle East later this month for the Qatar Grand Prix, followed by the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. These races are set to proceed after F1 officials stood down contingency plans to hold a race in Imola, Italy.
