EU-monitored pedestrian crossing on Gaza-Egypt border to reopen next week, Italy announces

An EU mission at the Rafah border point between Gaza and Egypt will resume following the ceasefire, with the pedestrian crossing due to reopen on October 14, Italy says.

The EUBAM monitoring mission is intended to provide a neutral, third-party presence at the key crossing and involves police from Italy, Spain and France. It was deployed in January but suspended in March.

In a statement, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto says he has authorized the resumption of Italian operations within the EU mission for the reopening of the crossing under the same conditions as in January.

It follows the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas under a truce and hostage-release deal proposed by US President Donald Trump.

“On October 14, 2025, in compliance with the Trump agreement, in coordination with the European Union and the parties, the Rafah crossing will be opened alternately in two directions, exiting towards Egypt and entering towards Gaza,” Crosetto says.

He says Israel was “working to restore the logistical functionality of the crossing’s infrastructure as quickly as possible.”

Unlike in January, when the EU said the main objective of the mission was to coordinate and facilitate the daily transit of up to 300 wounded and sick people, Crosetto says: “The passage of personnel will not be limited to serious medical cases, but will be extended to anyone who wishes (subject to the mutual approval of Israel and Egypt).”

The EU set up the civilian mission in 2005 to help monitor the Rafah crossing, but it was suspended two years later after the Palestinian terror group Hamas overthrew the Palestinian Authority and took control of Gaza.