About Us
Mandate
The Mission provides a neutral, third-party presence at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) on the Gaza–Egypt border. Its role is to help build trust between the parties, support coordination among all sides, and contribute to the Palestinian Authority’s ability to manage the crossing effectively.
Mission Activities
Following the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, the Mission suspended its operations and entered standby mode. Since 2014, it has implemented a long-term capacity-building project with the Palestinian border authorities, offering training and strategic advice to support preparations for a future return to the crossing and promote sustainable, Palestinian-led border management.
In January 2025, EUBAM Rafah redeployed to the RCP alongside the Palestinian Authority for the first time since 2007, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that enabled a limited reopening of the crossing.
The operation was reinforced by two Specialised Teams of EU security and border experts from Gendarmerie Nationale, Arma dei Carabinieri and the Guardia Civil deployed via the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR).
Operations paused in March due to renewed hostilities, but the Mission stands ready to resume activities when conditions allow, in coordination with all relevant parties.
On 26 June 2025, EU Member States renewed EUBAM Rafah’s mandate for another year and endorsed a more flexible approach that replaces the Mission’s previous standby status, allowing it to quickly adapt its presence and activities in response to developments on the ground.
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CopyrightEUBAM Rafah, 2025
Head of Mission: Nataliya Apostolova
Bulgarian diplomat Nataliya Apostolova has been appointed as Head of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) by the European Council and assumed office on 1 November 2023.
She has served over 25 years both in her national diplomatic administration and in the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Just before joining EUBAM Rafah, she concluded her three-year tenure as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS, the other EU CSDP Mission based and operational in the Palestinian Territories.
Nataliya Apostolova occupied high-ranking posts in the Bulgarian government, including managing the EU accession negotiations of Bulgaria in three main fields – transport, information society and Trans-European networks.
She has been holding diplomatic positions in the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to Word Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva and in the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU.
From 2010 until 2020, Nataliya Apostolova served in the EEAS holding senior posts in Egypt (as Deputy Head of the EU Delegation), in Libya (Ambassador/ Head of the EU Delegation in Tripoli), in Kosovo as EU Special Representative (EUSR)/Head office of the EU in Pristina.
Nataliya Apostolova is a law graduate, she has one daughter.
CONTACT US
EUBAM Rafah Headquarters
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Sasson Hugi Tower, 12 Abba Hillel Silver Road, 17th Floor, Ramat Gan 5250606 Tel Aviv, Israel Office: +972 (0) 3 5755 723 E-mail: press.office@eubam-rafah.eu |
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WHO WE ARE? Check our Fact Sheet (downloadable).
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Supply, Delivery & Intallation of Goods in the Command & Control Center at Al-Karamah Terminal (Jericho)
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CopyrightEUBAM Rafah, 2025
Facts and Figures
From the start of the Mission on 25 November 2005, until the last day of opening under EUBAM monitoring on 9 June 2007, a total of 443,975 passengers crossed the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP): 229,429 persons left Gaza to enter Egypt while 214,117 entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Until the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit near the Gaza Strip on 25 June 2006, the RCP was open regularly, with only 2 days of closure for 211 days of opening. During that period, a total of 279,050 people used the RCP, with an average of 1,324 per day.
Two and a half months after the opening, on 7 February 2006, RCP celebrated the crossing of its 100,000th passenger.
After the capture of Gilad Shalit and until 9 June 2007, the opening became irregular: the terminal was open 83 days and closed 268 days. A total of 164,496 people used the RCP, with an average of 1,977 a day.
EUBAM Rafah suspended its operations at RCP on 13 June 2007.
The current strength of the Mission is 10 international and 8 local staff.