A senior EU official reported yesterday that preliminary discussions are underway regarding the deployment of an EU mission at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza. However, such an action will not proceed until the conflict in the area concludes. The EU Foreign Ministers are set to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss how to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Diplomats indicated that the United States has suggested reviving the EU’s border assistance mission at Rafah, which has been inactive since 2007. Rafah is the primary entry point for aid from Egypt and has been closed since the Israeli forces took control of it from the Palestinian side nearly three weeks ago. Rafah city is currently the site of an Israeli military offensive, which international judges have declared must be halted immediately.
The senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, mentioned, “Even though we currently have people on the ground discussing with various parties how to implement this, we are still at a very early stage.” The official also noted that the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, might be authorized by the 27 member states on Monday to propose “some form of conclusion” that could facilitate the mission’s deployment.
He added that the deployment might not occur “under the current circumstances, not in wartime conditions,” and emphasized, “We are talking about the future.” Three EU diplomats stated that the issue would be discussed, but there are no concrete matters yet on the agenda. One diplomat remarked that the proposal “seems far-fetched,” and diplomats mentioned that the mission would only proceed if Egypt and Israel agree.
