US seeking to revive EU group’s role in monitoring Rafah crossing

A European Union border assistance mission is under consideration to be put in charge of administering the Rafah crossing, according to a Politico report citing senior Biden administration officials.

The European Union border assistance mission to the Rafah crossing point, EUBAM Rafah, in short, has reportedly been in talks with US officials to take over the administration of the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel invaded Rafah on 7 May.

"EUBAM Rafah is mandated to provide a Third-Party Presence at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP). In its current stand-by mode, EUBAM Rafah supports enhanced capacity of Palestinian Authority border agencies," its mission statement reads. 

EUBAM Rafah was previously in charge of monitoring the crossing from 2005 to June 2007, when it announced a temporary suspension of operations after Egypt closed the crossing following Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip. 

The US proposition of reinstalling EUBAM Rafah comes amid an ongoing impasse between Egyptian and Israeli officials on who should be put in charge

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