Overview
- Jolie traveled to the Egyptian side of Rafah on January 2 with a U.S. delegation to observe conditions and meet humanitarian workers.
- She spoke with Red Crescent volunteers and aid truck drivers, with one volunteer describing hundreds of vehicles waiting to enter.
- Israel has not authorized the reopening of the crossing since the October 10 ceasefire, despite UN and aid community appeals.
- Egypt and six other Muslim-majority countries released a joint declaration urging Israel to guarantee sustainable, predictable, unrestricted humanitarian operations.
- Israeli authorities announced the suspension of permits for more than two dozen NGOs operating in Gaza from January 1, including Médecins Sans Frontières.