EU discusses re-deploying monitoring mission to Rafah: Foreign policy chief
European bloc 'ready to assist with humanitarian aid, reconstruction, recovery,' Kaja Kallas says after meeting Palestinian premier

ANKARA
The European Union is discussing re-deploying its monitoring mission to Rafah, the southern city in the Gaza Strip where Israel began an offensive last May, the EU foreign policy chief said Friday.
Kaja Kallas said on X that she hosted Palestine’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Brussels "just hours after the announcement on an agreement for a ceasefire and hostage release."
The deal could be a “step towards lasting peace,” she said, adding that still challenges remain ahead.
“We are ready to assist with humanitarian aid, reconstruction and recovery. The EU just committed a new €120 million aid package for Gaza. We are also in discussions about redeploying our monitoring mission to Rafah to ensure stability at the border,” Kallas said.
A civilian EU mission to help monitor the Rafah crossing was set up in 2005, but was suspended in 2007 after Hamas formed a government in the enclave.
The EU Commission on Thursday announced a new €120 million (approximately $123.4 million) humanitarian package for Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
This latest package brings total EU humanitarian assistance to Gaza to over €450 million ($462.9 million) since 2023 and comes in addition to the EU Air Bridge Flights, which have delivered over 3,800 tons of aid, the EU Commission said in a statement.
Qatar late Wednesday announced a three-phase cease-fire agreement evening to end over 15 months of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, with the cease-fire set to take effect on Sunday.
Nearly 46,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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