EU wants to resume control on Gaza-Egypt border, says top diplomat

European Union leaders are negotiating the reinstatement of its border control mission on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to evacuate Gaza Strip residents affected by the fighting and left without medical care.

The remarks were made by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in an interview with a Spanish newspaper, per Caliber.Az.

“There is an Arab League ministerial meeting in Egypt to which I have been invited. We are also negotiating so that our EU border control mission, which has been on the border between Egypt and Gaza for many years, can come back and open a crossing point through which to evacuate primarily the wounded who cannot get help in Gaza,” he said.

Moreover, the head of European diplomacy reiterated Brussels' intention to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.

“At the moment, the only thing that needs to be achieved is a ceasefire. The delay in reaching a ceasefire is irritating: today we are told that it is about to be reached, and the next day we are told that perhaps [it will be reached] tomorrow. Israel says it's [Palestinian movement] Hamas‘s fault, and Hamas says it's Israel's fault,” Borrel said.

In May, Politico reported that the United States was negotiating with the EU, Egypt and Israel to transfer control of the Rafah crossing on the border of the Gaza Strip to a European mission. The publication noted that the European mission had previously operated on the Gaza border, but suspended its activities in 2007 after Hamas gained power in the Palestinian enclave.