The German government plans to send border management experts to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, government sources have told dpa.
To facilitate the deployment, Berlin plans to amend a 2005 Cabinet decision that previously allowed only unarmed personnel to be sent, according to the government sources.
The adjustment would permit the deployment of armed forces, as the current security situation is deemed too dangerous for unarmed border guards.
The deployment could be part of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah), which is set to resume operations after a years-long hiatus.
The mission, first established in 2005 to help control the crossing, was suspended in 2007 when Hamas took control in the Gaza Strip, as the EU refused to cooperate with the Palestinian militant organization.
In an initial phase, a low double-digit number of EU border experts and support staff are to be deployed to supervise border checks, if possible from the beginning of February.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing is part of a three-phase ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, and should enable significant amounts of humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday said that Italy, Spain and France are the first three EU countries to send personnel to Rafah.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has publicly advocated for the deployment, calling it an important signal of Europe’s commitment to global responsibility.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock speaks during a press conference with Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys at the Federal Foreign Office. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
