Celebrity symbolism meets harsh truth as Israel prioritizes hostages, security, amid Hamas obstruction and regional silence.
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie visited Egypt’s side of the Rafah Crossing on Friday, meeting Red Crescent personnel and truck drivers awaiting entry into Gaza, according to AFP. Jolie arrived with an American delegation and was welcomed by Egyptian officials, telling volunteers she felt “honored” to meet them.
Red Crescent staff reportedly told Jolie that thousands of aid trucks remain stalled at the crossing—an outcome not of Israeli obstruction, but of ongoing ceasefire violations and logistical failures linked to Hamas, including delays in returning murdered Israeli hostages. Despite repeated claims circulated globally, Israel maintains that aid access is contingent on security guarantees and the prevention of weapons smuggling.
Local media said Jolie sought to observe the condition of wounded Gazans transferred to Egypt and to review aid flows into the enclave. Neither Jolie nor Egyptian authorities released an official statement, highlighting the visit’s symbolic rather than operational nature.
Jolie, a former UN refugee agency envoy, has previously leveled harsh accusations against Israel—claims widely disputed by Israeli officials and security experts who point to Hamas’ systematic use of civilians, hospitals, and crossings as shields. Israeli authorities emphasize that the Israel Defense Forces are fighting a war imposed by terror, not civilians, and that humanitarian corridors have been repeatedly opened despite rocket fire and sabotage.
Her comments drew a stark rebuke from her father, actor Jon Voight, who underscored Israel’s moral and legal right to defend its people after the October atrocities, reminding audiences that war against jihadist terror cannot be sanitized by celebrity narratives.
As cameras focus on Rafah, Israel insists the real humanitarian breakthrough begins with Hamas’ compliance, hostage returns, and regional accountability—conditions still unmet.
