EU extends Gaza border mission until June 2027

This decision was taken at a meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels.

In a statement, the European Union (EU) indicates that the decision to extend these two missions arises after the European External Action Service has made a “strategic assessment” based on documents provided by the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

“ This decision follows a three-month technical extension, adopted on 29 June 2026, which extended the mandates of both missions of the Common Security and Defence Policy until 30 September 2026”, states the block.

The EU recalls that, in the conclusions of the June summit of the Heads of State or Government of the , the European Council reaffirmed its commitment to “international law and comprehensive, fair and lasting peace in the region based on the solution of the two states”, and expressed its willingness to contribute to the implementation of the peace plan for Gaza, including through these two missions.

The EU assistance mission in Rafah (EU BAM Rafah) was launched in November 2005 and aims to provide technical support to Palestinian border guards at the Rafah border between Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Without military means, this mission aims to ensure the presence of “a third-party actor” at the Rafah border post to ensure that “there is confidence between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority”.

Interrupted in 2007, when Hamas began to rule the Gaza Strip, the EU decided to reactivate the EU BAM Rafah in January 2025 and again in February 2026, allowing the passage “of more than 13 thousand” people to this day.

In turn, the European Union Mission to Support the Palestinian Police and the Rule of Law (EUPOL COPPS) was established in January 2006 and its objective is to support the Palestinian police and criminal justice institutions, in particular in the West Bank.

“ Through its contribution to the reform of the security and justice sector, the mission supports efforts to improve the security of the Palestinian population and strengthen the rule of law,” the EU said.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, which made 1,221 mostly civilian deaths, according to a count of the France-Presse news agency.

In reprisal, Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Ministry of Health of Palestinian territory, which is under Hamas’ authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.