Israel accepts the extension of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS until June 2027, the Council is set to decide.
Liviu Brăteanu
EU
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The Israeli authorities informed the European Union that they accept the extension of the EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS mandates for another nine months, until June 30, 2027, the Commission announced at the press briefing on August 11. The Council must now continue discussions regarding the extension of the two European civilian missions, whose current mandates are valid until September 30, 2026.
In short, Israel informed the EU that it accepts the extension of the EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS mandates for another nine months, until June 30, 2027. The Council must adopt the decision regarding the extension. The mandates of the two missions were extended on June 29 until September 30, 2026, following requests from the Palestinian Authority and Israel and after discussions held by the Commission in the region. EUBAM Rafah supports, monitors, and advises the Palestinian staff operating the Rafah crossing point. EUPOL COPPS provides advice on policing and the broader criminal justice system in the West Bank. Approximately 10,000 passengers have crossed through Rafah since the reopening of the crossing on February 2, 2026, according to the Commission. Among those crossing are individuals who need medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip. The Israeli approval does not yet represent a formal extension of the mandates. The next step belongs to the EU Council.
EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS are two distinct civilian missions of the European Union that work with Palestinian institutions in the areas of borders, policing, and justice.
EUBAM Rafah is directly linked to the operation of the crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The European mission supports, monitors, and advises the Palestinian border staff for the operation of the Rafah crossing in accordance with applicable arrangements.
The European presence does not mean that the EU solely controls who enters or exits Gaza. The operation of the crossing depends on arrangements between the parties involved and the security situation.
The Commission stated that since the reopening of the Rafah crossing on February 2, 2026, the total number of passengers who have transited the point has reached approximately 10,000.
Brussels says that the EU plays an active role in facilitating the movement in and out of Gaza and that some of the individuals crossing need medical care.
The figure of 10,000 represents the total number of passengers who have passed through the point since its reopening and does not indicate only medically evacuated individuals or only those who have left Gaza.
In the briefing, the Commission was also asked about Palestinian students from Gaza who have received scholarships in European countries but are facing difficulties in leaving the territory.
The Commission responded that issues regarding visas and consular services fall under the competence of the member states. It did not announce a separate European mechanism for the evacuation of students through Rafah or other crossing points.
EUPOL COPPS has a different mandate. The mission works in the West Bank and advises Palestinian institutions in the areas of policing and the criminal justice system.
The Commission described its activity as support for the Palestinian police and the broader criminal justice chain.
The two missions are part of the EU's common security and defense policy and are not military operations.
The extension of their mandates requires political agreement at the Union level and conditions that allow for the deployment of activities on the ground.
On June 29, the Council decided to maintain the mandates until September 30, 2026. The Commission explained that this decision followed letters received from the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, as well as a visit to the region during which the importance of continuing the missions was discussed.
The extension until the end of September ensured short-term continuity while the EU awaited the necessary conditions for a longer extension.
The novelty announced on August 11 is the Israeli approval for the maintenance of the missions until June 30, 2027.
The Commission specified that the Israeli authorities informed the presidency about the acceptance of the nine-month extension of the mandates of the two missions.
The Israeli approval does not automatically extend the missions. The EU Council must continue the procedure and adopt the necessary decision to establish the new duration.
Therefore, the date of June 30, 2027, represents the period for which there is now Israeli approval and which will be examined by the member states, not a European mandate already definitively adopted.
The continuation of EUBAM Rafah is linked to the role that the EU has in the operation of the crossing point and the limited access of individuals in and out of Gaza.
The Commission says that the mission contributes to facilitating safe movement and strengthening trust among the involved actors.
The operation of Rafah remains dependent on the security conditions and cooperation between the Palestinian, Israeli, and Egyptian authorities.
In the briefing, the Commission did not announce an extension of the number of people who can transit the point nor a new agreement regarding daily capacity.
It also did not provide details regarding the possibility that Palestinian police officers previously trained by EUPOL COPPS could receive a new role in Gaza.
When asked about possible plans in this regard, the Commission indicated that further information needs to be verified.
This means that the extension of EUPOL COPPS must be separated from any hypothesis regarding the deployment of Palestinian police officers trained by the mission in the Gaza Strip.
The current mandate of EUPOL COPPS remains focused on supporting Palestinian police and justice institutions, especially in the West Bank.
In the case of EUBAM Rafah, the activity is directly related to the border point and may vary depending on the effective possibility of operating the crossing.
The mission can remain mandated even in periods when activity at the border is reduced, so that the EU can resume or adapt operations when conditions allow.
The decision that the Council is set to discuss would maintain the institutional framework of both missions until mid-2027.
EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS are distinct civilian missions, with different mandates and areas of activity. The former focuses on the management of the Rafah crossing point, while the latter focuses on Palestinian policing and justice.
The current mandates have been extended until September 30, 2026. The Israeli approval announced on August 11 allows for the continuation of discussions for a new extension until June 30, 2027.
The Council had not yet adopted this extension at the time of the briefing. Therefore, the date of June 30, 2027, must be presented as a proposed deadline accepted by the Israeli side, not as a new mandate already in force.
The reopening of Rafah on February 2 allowed the transit of approximately 10,000 passengers until August 11, according to the figure communicated by the Commission.
In short, Israel informed the EU that it accepts the extension of the EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS mandates for another nine months, until June 30, 2027. The Council must adopt the decision regarding the extension. The mandates of the two missions were extended on June 29 until September 30, 2026, following requests from the Palestinian Authority and Israel and after discussions held by the Commission in the region. EUBAM Rafah supports, monitors, and advises the Palestinian staff operating the Rafah crossing point. EUPOL COPPS provides advice on policing and the broader criminal justice system in the West Bank. Approximately 10,000 passengers have crossed through Rafah since the reopening of the crossing on February 2, 2026, according to the Commission. Among those crossing are individuals who need medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip. The Israeli approval does not yet represent a formal extension of the mandates. The next step belongs to the EU Council.
EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS are two distinct civilian missions of the European Union that work with Palestinian institutions in the areas of borders, policing, and justice.
EUBAM Rafah is directly linked to the operation of the crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The European mission supports, monitors, and advises the Palestinian border staff for the operation of the Rafah crossing in accordance with applicable arrangements.
The European presence does not mean that the EU solely controls who enters or exits Gaza. The operation of the crossing depends on arrangements between the parties involved and the security situation.
The Commission stated that since the reopening of the Rafah crossing on February 2, 2026, the total number of passengers who have transited the point has reached approximately 10,000.
Brussels says that the EU plays an active role in facilitating the movement in and out of Gaza and that some of the individuals crossing need medical care.
The figure of 10,000 represents the total number of passengers who have passed through the point since its reopening and does not indicate only medically evacuated individuals or only those who have left Gaza.
In the briefing, the Commission was also asked about Palestinian students from Gaza who have received scholarships in European countries but are facing difficulties in leaving the territory.
The Commission responded that issues regarding visas and consular services fall under the competence of the member states. It did not announce a separate European mechanism for the evacuation of students through Rafah or other crossing points.
EUPOL COPPS has a different mandate. The mission works in the West Bank and advises Palestinian institutions in the areas of policing and the criminal justice system.
The Commission described its activity as support for the Palestinian police and the broader criminal justice chain.
The two missions are part of the EU's common security and defense policy and are not military operations.
The extension of their mandates requires political agreement at the Union level and conditions that allow for the deployment of activities on the ground.
On June 29, the Council decided to maintain the mandates until September 30, 2026. The Commission explained that this decision followed letters received from the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, as well as a visit to the region during which the importance of continuing the missions was discussed.
The extension until the end of September ensured short-term continuity while the EU awaited the necessary conditions for a longer extension.
The novelty announced on August 11 is the Israeli approval for the maintenance of the missions until June 30, 2027.
The Commission specified that the Israeli authorities informed the presidency about the acceptance of the nine-month extension of the mandates of the two missions.
The Israeli approval does not automatically extend the missions. The EU Council must continue the procedure and adopt the necessary decision to establish the new duration.
Therefore, the date of June 30, 2027, represents the period for which there is now Israeli approval and which will be examined by the member states, not a European mandate already definitively adopted.
The continuation of EUBAM Rafah is linked to the role that the EU has in the operation of the crossing point and the limited access of individuals in and out of Gaza.
The Commission says that the mission contributes to facilitating safe movement and strengthening trust among the involved actors.
The operation of Rafah remains dependent on the security conditions and cooperation between the Palestinian, Israeli, and Egyptian authorities.
In the briefing, the Commission did not announce an extension of the number of people who can transit the point nor a new agreement regarding daily capacity.
It also did not provide details regarding the possibility that Palestinian police officers previously trained by EUPOL COPPS could receive a new role in Gaza.
When asked about possible plans in this regard, the Commission indicated that further information needs to be verified.
This means that the extension of EUPOL COPPS must be separated from any hypothesis regarding the deployment of Palestinian police officers trained by the mission in the Gaza Strip.
The current mandate of EUPOL COPPS remains focused on supporting Palestinian police and justice institutions, especially in the West Bank.
In the case of EUBAM Rafah, the activity is directly related to the border point and may vary depending on the effective possibility of operating the crossing.
The mission can remain mandated even in periods when activity at the border is reduced, so that the EU can resume or adapt operations when conditions allow.
The decision that the Council is set to discuss would maintain the institutional framework of both missions until mid-2027.
EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS are distinct civilian missions, with different mandates and areas of activity. The former focuses on the management of the Rafah crossing point, while the latter focuses on Palestinian policing and justice.
The current mandates have been extended until September 30, 2026. The Israeli approval announced on August 11 allows for the continuation of discussions for a new extension until June 30, 2027.
The Council had not yet adopted this extension at the time of the briefing. Therefore, the date of June 30, 2027, must be presented as a proposed deadline accepted by the Israeli side, not as a new mandate already in force.
The reopening of Rafah on February 2 allowed the transit of approximately 10,000 passengers until August 11, according to the figure communicated by the Commission.
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