Angelina Jolie Visits Rafah Crossing amid Suspension of Gaza Aid Groups

Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah Crossing on Friday as part of a humanitarian mission to Egypt, as international aid organisations working in Gaza face suspension by Israel, deepening concerns over the enclave’s deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

The Oscar-winning actress and former UN Refugee Agency special envoy travelled to the key border crossing linking Egypt and Gaza, according to a statement from her representatives. The visit comes days after Israel announced it would suspend the operations of dozens of aid groups operating in the Gaza Strip.

“I spoke to humanitarian agencies who are working hard to do their best to overcome the restrictions and challenges of delivering necessary aid into Gaza. I walked through a large warehouse that was full of items that were denied entry, most of them medical,” Jolie said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Israel said it would halt the work of international humanitarian organisations that failed to renew their registration. The process requires groups operating in Gaza to submit personal details of their staff — a condition aid agencies say puts employees at risk.

Aid organisations have repeatedly raised safety concerns, warning that the disclosure requirements could expose staff members to harm in an already volatile environment.

Israel’s decision follows warnings from 10 countries that Gaza’s humanitarian situation is facing “renewed deterioration,” with conditions in the besieged enclave described as “catastrophic.”

Israeli authorities have said the registration measures are intended to prevent Hamas from exploiting international aid — an allegation rejected by the United Nations and humanitarian groups. 

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer the impact of a harsh winter. Heavy rainfall and plunging temperatures have worsened living conditions in the war-ravaged territory, where much of the infrastructure lies in ruins.

Severe weather has destroyed makeshift tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, while at least 20 people have been killed after homes and buildings collapsed during storms, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Government Media Office.

During her visit, Jolie met with representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent and other local aid organisations to discuss ways to scale up assistance to Gaza.

“What needs to happen is clear: the ceasefire must hold, and access must be sustained, safe and urgently scaled up so that aid, fuel and critical medical supplies can move quickly and consistently, at the volume required,” Jolie said.

“Winter items and essential medical equipment should move without delay. Every day of disruption costs lives,” she added.

Jolie also expressed gratitude to humanitarian volunteers and is scheduled to meet Palestinian and Sudanese refugee families in Egypt as part of her ongoing advocacy efforts, her office said.