European Union Godok Plans To Relive Gaza's Rafah Border Civil Mission

JAKARTA - The European Union is in talks to revive civilian missions to monitor the border between Gaza and Egypt in Rafah following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas explained the European Union's civil mission to help monitor the Rafah crossing was formed under an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 2005, as part of international aid in peace efforts at a time when Israel withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza.

But the mission only operated for a year and a half before it was stopped when Hamas militants took control of the Gaza Strip and expelled internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.

Kallas met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Brussels on Friday, January 17 morning and spoke by telephone with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

"The EU is discussing the re-submission of our monitoring mission to Rafah to ensure stability at the border, so we have prepared it," Kallas told reporters in Brussels.

Kallas said the transfer required an invitation from Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as a cooperation agreement with Egypt.

He said the mission now has ten international staff and eight local residents on standby.

"We will also be ready to help with reconstruction and recovery," he said.

Kallas said the EU was committed to a two-state solution to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Of course eternal peace means compromise on both sides," he said.

"I think there is an opportunity to prevent further casualties with this ceasefire," he added.