Lewis Hamilton made an emotional social media post after visiting the Rafah border crossing near the Gaza Strip ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Hamilton is all set to race on the iconic Vegas strip next weekend but made a short stop to reflect on matters of much more serious import.
The Ferrari driver was at Rafah, the Egyptian border crossing site which is the the only crossing point Palestine shares with another country that is not Israel.
The seven-time F1 World Champion took time out to speak to the personnel at the Rafah border, and reflected on the “injustice” the tension between the nations had sprouted.
Coming onto Instagram, Hamilton revealed that despite the ceasefire terms, Israel had not been allowing aid trucks to reach the Palestinian people.
Calling this out, he asserted that Israel had to “fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in.”
“The past three years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza is appalling,” he wrote.
“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.
“I saw walls stretching for miles, built to keep them in. Standing there, outside what felt like an open-air prison, all I could think about was getting in to help.
“At [the] Rafah border, I saw food trucks lined up ready to go, but they’re regularly not allowed in or face major delays. The first driver in line that I spoke to had already been waiting over 12 hours.
“At the nearby logistics centre, I saw the hard work of the aid workers, but I also saw what gets rejected for crazy reasons. Sleeping bags, first aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs, even footballs for kids.
“Israel needs to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in. No excuse.
“I know so many people feel that same helplessness. That same need to do something rather than just watch. I don’t want us to get used to their suffering. I don’t want us to look away.”
Hamilton currently sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, losing a place to George Russell after the Sao Paulo GP.
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