EU job announcement for Rafah crossing has nothing to do with crossing operation

Social media accounts linked the European Union’s announcement of four jobs related to the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to its reopening, indicating that a ceasefire in Gaza is close. The accounts posted a screenshot of the announcement with the following text: “Confirming the preparations for the opening of the crossing.. The official European Union website announces jobs at the crossing.” Others posted the following text: “It seems that within the framework of preparations for its operation.. The European Monitoring Mission at the Rafah crossing announces job vacancies, including a legal advisor, media officer, and security officer. The deadline for submitting applications is 7 January 2025.”

Kashif verified the claim and found it to be misleading. The EU’s announcement of jobs related to the Rafah crossing is a routine announcement to change the European mission’s staff, and has nothing to do with operating the crossing.

Shadi Othman, the official spokesman for the European Union in Palestine, told Kashif that these jobs have anything to do with operating the Rafah crossing. Othman confirmed that this announcement by the official website of the European Union is a routine announcement for foreign employees that takes place every three years to change the staff of the European mission that supervised the Rafah crossing, and they have an office in the West Bank and Israel.

The European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point was established by the Council of the European Union in November 2005, to serve as a “third party” for the European Union at the border crossing point. The mission is a civilian and unarmed one operating in accordance with the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted officials participating in the negotiations as saying that gaps still exist regarding the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Channel 14 quoted an Israeli official who said that there is a possibility of reaching an exchange deal by the end of the current round of talks, but it will take two weeks or more.

Hamas confirmed in a statement on Tuesday 17/12/2024 that reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement is possible if Israel stops setting new conditions, based on the serious and positive discussions taking place in Doha under the auspices of Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

The Israeli occupation army stormed the Rafah land crossing from the Palestinian side and took full control of it on 7/5/2024 as part of the ground military operation on the city of Rafah that was announced on 6/5/2024, and since then the crossing has completely stopped operating.