Cynthia Ezegwu
The European Union has announced plans to restart its civilian mission to monitor the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt as part of efforts to support the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, following the release of the first group of Israeli hostages by Hamas under the new ceasefire deal.
“The EU stands ready to do its part,” Kallas stated. “This mission can play an important role in supporting the ceasefire.”
The European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) Rafah was originally established in 2005 to oversee operations at the crossing but was suspended in 2007 when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. The mission, comprising officers from Italy, Spain, and France, provides a neutral, third-party presence to ensure transparency and coordination at the border.
Although the mission was briefly redeployed in January, it was again suspended in March due to escalating hostilities.
Kallas also acknowledged the efforts of US President Donald Trump in facilitating the ceasefire and securing the hostage release, calling it “a crucial milestone towards peace.”
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In a related statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Monday’s Gaza summit in Sharm el-Sheikh — where the agreement was finalised — as “a historical milestone.”
She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the peace process, saying the bloc “fully supports the peace plan brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye.”
“We stand ready to contribute to its success with all tools at our disposal,” von der Leyen said, citing the EU’s willingness to assist in governance and institutional reforms within the Palestinian Authority.
The EU delegation to the summit is led by European Council President Antonio Costa, representing the bloc’s 27 member states.