Germany to send staff for EU's Gaza-Egypt border mission

Germany’s cabinet has decided in principle to deploy police forces for a European Union civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah, a government source tells Reuters.

The exact timing as well as the size of Germany’s contribution to secure the key entry and exit point for the Palestinian territory has yet to be decided, the source adds.

The European Union last month restarted the civilian mission with personnel from Spain, Italy and France to secure the crossing, which is also the main passage for humanitarian aid.

Germany, which holds federal elections on February 23, has previously said some of its ministries had consulted on their role in the mission.