Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has urged Israel to let aid trucks into Gaza, a day after visiting the Rafah border crossing in Egypt and touring Egyptian Red Crescent aid warehouses in El Arish, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters

Hamilton, 41, who drives for Ferrari, arrived in El Arish on Tuesday, where he was briefed on how aid is prepared and coordinated before it is sent into Gaza, Reuters said. Sky Sports, reporting the same visit on Wednesday, said he toured the Rafah crossing and the Red Crescent's warehouses to witness efforts to deliver humanitarian and relief aid bound for Gaza.

Source: Sky Sports

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Hamilton wrote: “The past three years of Israel's genocide in Gaza is appalling. It's an injustice for people to be denied their freedom, their safety and their dignity. No human being should be treated as though their life matters less.” That genocide characterisation is Hamilton's own allegation: Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide and says its military campaign in Gaza targets Hamas militants, Reuters reported.

Hamilton described seeing food trucks lined up at Rafah ready to go but regularly not allowed in or facing major delays. Sky Sports quoted him saying the first driver in line he spoke to had already been waiting over 12 hours.

At a nearby logistics centre, Hamilton said he saw aid rejected for what he called “crazy reasons”, including sleeping bags, first-aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs and footballs for children, both Reuters and Sky Sports reported.

“Israel needs to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in. No excuse,” Hamilton said. “I don't want us to get used to their suffering. I don't want us to look away.”

Israel's response and the wider aid picture

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied Israel was delaying the entry of supplies into Gaza and blamed Hamas for worsening conditions, accusing it of refusing to disarm and of seizing aid for military use, Sky Sports reported. Those are Israel's stated positions; Hamas's response to Netanyahu's Wednesday remarks was not reported in the sources used for this story.

The US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place but has not ended Israeli strikes on Gaza, and the UN World Food Programme says two-thirds of Gaza's population are struggling to get enough to eat, Sky Sports reported.

Hamilton's appeal came on the same day the UN relief chief demanded winter supplies be let into Gaza without further delay. Read: UN relief chief on Gaza winter aid

Hamilton founded the Mission 44 charity in 2021 to support young people and improve access to education and employment, and has previously called for peace in the region, Reuters and Sky Sports reported. He visited Rafah after competing in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last weekend and is next due to race for Ferrari in Las Vegas, with practice on Friday, November 20, Sky Sports said.