EU ministers agree to revive Rafah border mission

Humanitarian aid trucks, crossing from Egypt to Rafah Border Crossing, wait on the border after the announcement of ceasefire and hostage-swap deal between Hamas and Israel on January 19, 2025 in Egypt [Mohamed Elshahed – Anadolu Agency]

The European Union will restart a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah, the bloc’s Foreign Policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday, Reuters reports.

“Everyone agrees that EUBAM Rafah can play a decisive role in supporting the ceasefire,” Kallas said.

“Today, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to redeploy it to the Rafah Crossing Point between Gaza and Egypt. This will allow a number of injured individuals to leave Gaza and receive medical care,” she added.

A civilian EU mission to help monitor the Rafah Crossing was agreed in 2005 but suspended in June 2007 as a result of Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip.

In its current stand-by mode, the mission has 10 international and eight local staff.

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