Lewis Hamilton says ‘Israel’s genocide in Gaza is appalling’ after Rafah visit

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, arrived in El Arish on Tuesday, where he was briefed on how aid is prepared and coordinated before it is sent into Gaza. He toured the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian Red Crescent's aid warehouses, witnessing firsthand the challenges in getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.

The Ferrari driver has frequently posted on social media about children killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and called for a ceasefire. 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-upon minimum of 600 trucks a day.

Border crossing visit

Hamilton described seeing food trucks lined up and ready to go at the border that were regularly held up or faced major delays. He greeted aid workers with 'Assalamu alaikum,' a widely used Arabic greeting meaning 'peace be upon you,' and shook hands with workers and officials.

Genocide accusation

Hamilton made strong accusations against Israel in an Instagram post, writing that 'the past three years of Israel's genocide in Gaza is appalling.' He emphasized that 'no human being should be treated as though their life matters less' and called for Israel to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire.

Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide and says its military campaign in Gaza targets Hamas militants. Hamilton, 41, is an advocate for humanitarian causes and founded Mission 44 in 2021, a charity that supports young people and works to improve their access to education and employment.

The driver is currently fourth in the drivers' championship, with three races remaining in the season: the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21, the Qatar Grand Prix on November 29, and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6.