The European Union has resumed its civilian monitoring mission at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, announced the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
"As of today, at the request of the Palestinians and Israelis, the EU civilian border mission at the Rafah crossing is underway. It will assist Palestinian border guards and facilitate the exit of the Gaza Strip, including for people in need of medical assistance," Kallas said on the social platform X.
The mission was initially established in 2005, but was suspended in June 2007 after the radical Palestinian group "Hamas" took control of the Gaza Strip.
The war between Israel and "Hamas" broke out on October 7, 2023, when the group carried out an attack on Israeli territory. According to Israeli data, about 1,200 people were killed at that time, and about 250 people were taken hostage.
The subsequent Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip killed an estimated 47,000 Palestinians, according to the "Hamas" Health Ministry. On January 19, 2024 a six-week truce came into effect.