"We did not identify weapons or drug smuggling": The head of the European mission at the Rafah crossing sums up her tenure

Natalia Apostolova, head of the EUBAM Rafah mission, concludes her two-year term. In a farewell interview, she clarifies that the European mandate has not changed, emphasizes that most inspections are carried out by Palestinians under European supervision, and notes that since February 2026 there have been no security incidents at the crossing. According to her, no cases of weapons or drug smuggling were identified.

Natalia Apostolova, a Bulgarian diplomat with over 25 years of experience in the European Union's foreign service, is ending her tenure as head of the EUBAM Rafah mission. She assumed the role in November 2023, less than a month after October 7, and now operates in a new reality on the Gaza border. In a farewell interview, she clarifies that the European mandate has not changed and is based on the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. According to her, the bulk of inspection and screening work is carried out by Palestinian border and customs officials, while EUBAM personnel provide oversight, training, and professional advice. Since the resumption of routine operations in February 2026, 16,748 people have passed through the crossing, including 6,152 entries into Gaza and 10,596 exits. Apostolova notes that there have been no security incidents since February 2026, and no cases of weapons or drug smuggling were identified. Violations that were caught mainly involved cigarettes. She emphasizes that the mission is a neutral, non-political, and non-executive body, and its goal is to balance Israeli security with humanitarian access for the Palestinian population.