Hamilton Urges Israel to Allow Gaza Aid After Rafah Visit

Lewis Hamilton urged Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza in a statement posted on Wednesday after visiting the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing. The Ferrari driver and seven-time Formula One world champion also visited the Egyptian Red Crescent’s aid warehouses during Tuesday’s trip. Hamilton accused Israel of genocide and said aid trucks were facing refusals or lengthy delays at the crossing. He said the first truck driver he spoke to had waited more than 12 hours. Among the items he said were being rejected were sleeping bags, first aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs and children’s footballs. “Israel needs to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in,” Hamilton wrote. He described walls extending for miles, compared the conditions he saw to an open-air prison and called for continued attention to Palestinians’ suffering. Separately on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that Israel was delaying the entry of supplies into Gaza. He blamed Hamas for worsening conditions, accused the terrorist group of taking humanitarian aid for military use and said it was refusing to disarm.