The Rafah Crossing Point is the only way for Gaza’s inhabitants to leave the disputed area
The European Union (E.U.) will today, i.e., Monday, 27th May’24 decide to move forward with its European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) Rafah.
The agenda would be discussed during the monthly meeting of E.U. Foreign Ministers. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles, also accused the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, of antisemitism against the International Criminal Court (ICC) for political gain.
The EUBAM Rafah was established in 2005 to monitor the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The RCP is the only way for Gaza’s inhabitants to leave the disputed area. However, it has not been operational since 2007, after Hamas seized full control of Gaza. To resume the EUBAM Rafah, Josep would require the unanimous approval from the 27 Member States.
Taking it to X, Josep tweeted,
Despite @CIJ_ICJ binding ruling, Israel struck Rafah & Hamas fired rockets to Israel. We'll discuss today, also w/ 5 Arab partners how to revitalise the political process.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 27, 2024
Russia escalates bombings against civilians, we'll discuss support to Ukraine.#FAChttps://t.co/yDWl1nE7uM pic.twitter.com/RscPKi82jw
The Rafah crossing is the main entry point for aid from Egypt, and has been closed since Israeli forces took control of it from the Gazan side nearly 3 weeks ago. Borrell mentioned the necessity of a political decision, which would then need to be technically implemented, pending approval from Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian authorities.
Meanwhile, 2 international courts based in The Hague have recently made decisions opposed by Israel. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) Prosecutor – Karim Khan, has sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defence Minister – Yoav Gallant, alongside Hamas’s leader – Yahya Sinwar, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the ongoing Gaza war. Separately, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah. Borrell accused Israel of continuing military action in southern Gaza despite the ICJ ruling.
Israel has dismissed the ICC as a rogue court and urged allies to reject it. Israel also claims its offensive in Rafah does not need to be halted according to the ICJ ruling, as it does not pose an unlawful threat to civilians.
Trouble started when Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,400 people with at least 150 hostages taken into Gaza. Dozens of hostages have been released by Palestinian groups in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a previous weeklong truce in November’23. As of now, at least 36,050 people have been killed and 81,026 wounded in the Israeli assault on Gaza.
