In a formal ceremony held on 26 June at the temporary office of the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM RAFAH) in Jerusalem, the Specialised Teams from France, Spain, and Italy were honoured for their exceptional service at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) in Gaza. Deployed through the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR), these 20 security and border police experts from Gendarmerie Nationale, Arma dei Carabinieri and the Guardia Civil played a crucial role in re-establishing the EU's operational presence at the RCP for the first time since 2007.
Nataliya Apostolova, Head of EUBAM RAFAH, praised the teams’ dedication during the ceremony: “Let this ceremony not only mark your individual excellence but also remind us all—here and abroad—that even in the darkest hours, Europe stands ready. Ready to respond. Ready to serve. And always ready to uphold the values that bind us together.”
Their deployment began on 31 January 2025, in response to formal requests from the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and with the consent of Egypt, under the framework of EUBAM Rafah’s existing mandate and in accordance with the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. Passenger movements through the RCP started on 1 February and continued until 17 March 2025, during which time the Mission facilitated the safe transit of 4,176 individuals, including 1,683 medical patients and their companions, in close cooperation with the Palestinian General Authority for Borders and Crossings (GABC).
Operations were paused on 18 March following renewed hostilities in Gaza and the subsequent closure of the RCP. Since then, the Specialised Teams have remained deployed in the region, based in Ashkelon, continuing to support capacity-building initiatives with the GABC to enhance institutional preparedness for future border management.
This deployment highlights not only the operational agility of EUBAM Rafah but also the solidarity and unity of the European Union in responding swiftly to humanitarian and security needs in a volatile region.
