EU foreign policy chief says talks under way to revive Rafah border mission

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is in talks to revive a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah following the announcement of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports.

Kallas met with the Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Brussels earlier today and spoke on the phone with Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

The EU is “in discussions about redeploying our monitoring mission to Rafah to ensure the stability at the border, so we have it ready”, Kallas told reporters in Brussels.

Kallas said redeploying would require invitations from Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as a cooperation agreement with Egypt. She said the mission now had ten international staff and eight locals on standby.

“We will also be ready to assist in reconstruction and recovery,” she said.

Kallas said the EU was committed to a two-state solution to the broader Israel-Palestinian conflict.

“Of course, lasting peace means compromises on both sides,” she said. “I think there is a chance to prevent further loss of life with this ceasefire.”

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