Agency Report –
Germany is set to contribute up to 25 police officers in an EU mission at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved sending the force, which does not require parliamentary approval as it is a civilian mission.
In addition, some 15 officers could be sent to the West Bank as advisers to support institution-building, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.
The deployment is not set to go ahead immediately due to the tense situation on the ground.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the decision signals Germany is “on board” for the EU mission, which is seeking to help stabilize the ceasefire in Gaza.
The Rafah crossing is the only border crossing into Gaza not controlled by Israel.
It was reopened on February 1, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the territory while seriously injured Palestinians leave for medical treatment.
German police officers previously participated in an EU mission near Rafah between 2005 and 2007.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on January 19, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that the war would resume if Hamas does not continue releasing hostages by Saturday.
