The EU’s top diplomat has said the civilian mission can play a “decisive role” in supporting the Gaza ceasefire. Euronews breaks down what we know about its mandate and operations.
The European Union is set to revive a civilian mission on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a move it hopes will increase the flow of aid into the enclave and allow the injured to be evacuated for treatment abroad.
The non-armed mission is expected to be operational on the border crossing from early February, after a deal was struck with the backing of Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which partially governs the occupied West Bank.
Established in 2005 but dismantled two years later when Hamas took control of Gaza, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) is understood to have been preparing for re-deployment since May last year.
Israel seized the crossing that same month, forcing its closure and further restricting the flow of essential aid to civilians.
The ceasefire deal struck between Hamas and Israel, which began on January 19, is expected to now allow the crossing to reopen in the presence of European observers.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the mission will be deployed “at the beginning of February” until the end of the first phase of the truce between Israel and Hamas, which is set to expire on March 2.
What do we know about the mission and who carries out its work?
The mission is non-military and is mainly tasked with policing the border and allowing the safe transit of goods and people. It has been led by Bulgarian diplomat Nataliya Apostolova since November 2023.
It has maintained ten international and eight local staff members while on stand-by mode since it was suspended in 2007.
Its workforce is now expected to be slightly beefed up as part of its re-deployment, with France, Italy and Spain contributing officers from its law enforcement forces.
The Italian foreign ministry confirmed on Monday that seven Carabinieri officers would join another two Italian nationals already part of the mission. Spain is understood to have deployed ten officers from its Guardia Civil, according to Spanish agency EFE, which would make it the largest contributor of personnel.
It is understood that Spanish and French officers have joined their Italian counterparts at the European Gendarmerie Force (Eurogendfor) headquarters in Vincenza, Italy, to prepare for the mission.
An Italian military command will coordinate the transfer and deployment of the officers to the Rafah crossing.
What is the mission’s mandate?
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday that the mission would support the “transfer of injured individuals out of Gaza for treatment.”
The World Health Organisation has repeatedly raised the alarm on the “excruciatingly slow” pace of medical evacuations. Its director-general Tedros Adhanom said earlier this month that it would take “five to ten years to evacuate” the 12,000 critically ill patients at the current rate of evacuations, which has plunged since the Rafah crossing closed last May.
The mission is also expected to facilitate the smooth passage of trucks carrying critical humanitarian aid, including food, medicine and fuel.
ADVERTISEMENTUnder the truce deal, 600 truckloads of aid – including 50 carrying fuel – are expected to enter the Gaza strip every day, the minimum number needed to curb famine, according to humanitarian agencies.
An average 500 trucks per day entered Gaza before the war broke out with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.
Israel continues to carry out exhaustive inspections on aid trucks entering the territory to ensure no goods can be hijacked by militant groups such as Hamas.
But aid groups have accused Israel of instrumentalising its control over the territory to restrict the flow of essential goods and exacerbate a deepening humanitarian crisis.
ADVERTISEMENTThe EU, in principle, is considered a trusted mediator that can ensure the safe and swift passage of trucks and people through the crossing.
The mission’s mandate, which currently expires on 30 June this year, is also described as intended to “build confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.”
Israel is nonetheless expected to maintain its presence on the crossing and along the Philadelphi corridor, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, throughout the first phase of the ceasefire.
Euronews contacted the European Commission to ask how the mission’s mandate could change in a potential second phase of the ceasefire, but did not receive an answer in time for publication.
ADVERTISEMENTCould it increase the EU’s role in shaping Gaza’s future?
The EU has had a minimal role in diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Gaza, which have been spearheaded by regional partners such as Qatar and Egypt as well as the US.
But the bloc is the biggest donor of aid to the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, investing €1.18 billion between 2021 and 2024 to prop up the local economy and prevent its people from plunging into destitution.
It is expected to have a leading role in the future reconstruction of Gaza, which can only start in a potential third phase of the ceasefire and is expected to take several years given the extent of destruction following 15 months of Israeli bombardment.
During her visit to Turkey over the weekend, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the bloc was “committed to the long-term reconstruction and development” of Gaza.
ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has previously laid out the EU’s five principles for the future of Gaza. They include no forced displacement of Palestinian people.
But Kallas refused to be drawn to comment this week on controversial statements made by US President Donald Trump hinting that civilians should be expelled from Gaza and southern Lebanon, and received by neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Lebanon.
“You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said over the weekend
Trump’s comments have been met with outrage and firmly rebuked by the international community, including some European governments.
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