By Melike Pala
BRUSSELS (AA) - The EU has redeployed its civilian border mission, EUBAM Rafah, to the Rafah crossing point, which reopened on Monday for passenger traffic in both directions into and out of Gaza, an EU Commission spokesperson confirmed.
The mission, deployed on Sunday, is tasked with facilitating the flow of passengers and supporting Palestinian border personnel in carrying out operations at the crossing.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened on Monday after nearly two years of closure by Israel under very strict conditions.
The move is part of the EU's efforts to implement the Gaza peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2803, spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said.
"This reopening, together with the redeployment of our mission, marks a significant step in implementing the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict," he noted.
El Anouni emphasized that the EU's presence at Rafah is a concrete contribution to the peace plan and part of the bloc's "toolbox" to stabilize the region, also stressing the importance of consolidating the current "fragile ceasefire."
"EU has been stressing how crucial it is to consolidate the current fragile ceasefire and to avoid having further casualties," he said.
Regarding broader political concerns, the EU reaffirmed its position against any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza, recalling UN Security Council Resolution 2735, and highlighted the importance of unifying Gaza with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
"And furthermore, the Trump peace plan has also been clear that Israel will not occupy or annex the Gaza Strip," he added.
According to Israeli media, around 150 Palestinians will be allowed to leave Gaza and 50 to enter via the crossing every day.
Gaza health officials estimate that about 22,000 patients are waiting for the crossing to fully reopen to seek medical treatment abroad.
A vital route for humanitarian aid, Israel captured the Rafah crossing in May 2024, almost nine months into Tel Aviv’s brutal war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 71,000 people and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023.
The terminal was scheduled to be reopened in October under the first phase of a ceasefire deal, but Israel refused to do so until it received the remaining of its last captive in Gaza, which took place last week.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued its attacks, killing 524 people and injuring 1,360 others since Oct. 10, according to Gaza’s media office.