The Rafah border crossing was set to be reopened under the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US, in effect in Gaza since October.
However, the crossing so far remained closed due to an Israeli refusal to open the crossing in both directions, in one of many Israeli violations of the terms of the truce.
Cairo has repeatedly urged the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to allow the entry of hundreds of aid trucks stranded on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza.
For his part, the North Sinai Governor explained to Jolie the measures Egypt has taken to manage the crisis since October 2023, including receiving injured Palestinians through the Rafah border crossing, as well as receiving and delivering humanitarian aid to the Strip.
Over the course of the Israeli genocidal war and blockade on the strip, Egypt has remained Gaza's primary lifeline, delivering more than 45,000 trucks, carrying over 780,000 tonnes of humanitarian and relief supplies, representing around 70 percent of aid sent to the strip.
Since 27 July 2025, the ERC launched the “Zad Al-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza” initiative, sending over 100 aid convoys to the strip in the face of an ongoing Israeli blockade on the strip.
The aid convoys include food parcels, flour, water, baby formula, medicines, medical equipment, hygiene kits, relief supplies, shelter materials, winter supplies, and fuel trucks.
In a joint statement on Friday, Egypt and seven other Arab and Muslim nations condemned the Israeli ban on humanitarian NGOs working in the occupied Palestinian territories, "urging the international community to pressure Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift the constraints on the entry and distribution of essential supplies" to Gaza.
During the visit, Jolie, 50, toured several important locations across the governorate, inspecting logistics warehouses designated to support the Palestinian people in Gaza, and reviewing Egypt’s efforts to receive and distribute humanitarian aid.
Jolie observed the mechanisms for the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip as well as the role of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), the national coordination body for aid delivery to Gaza, in organizing transport operations and coordinating relief efforts to the Palestinians.
She also visited Al-Arish General Hospital to check on the condition of injured Palestinians receiving treatment there.
Let's do lunch!
The visit to Rafah by Jolie, an acclaimed actress and Oscar winner, reflects Egypt’s humanitarian role in supporting the Palestinian people and its continued commitment to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian and relief assistance.
It also highlights Cairo’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with global organizations and public figures to alleviate dire conditions facing Gaza’s 2.2 million population due to the Israeli blockade on the strip.
The cameras captured touching moments during Angelina's visit with ecstatic Palestinian children and families in a children's playroom at a hospital in Al-Arish. Angelina holds the hand of a Palestinian girl, and the two exchange warm words and smiley faces --- through a translator. "I invite you to have lunch with us?" the girl asks Angelina. "Perfect!" says an excited star.
According to Shorouk News, the American star announced during the visit her plan to establish a relief village for orphaned children in Gaza, which would serve as a safe refuge for those who have lost relatives in the ongoing Israeli attacks.
She explained that the project would provide housing, healthcare, education, and psychological support to children living under extreme conditions after losing their families in the war, emphasising that the children of Gaza deserve life and hope, just like all children in the world.