Bold claim: Border work at a high-stakes crossing is as much about human courage as it is about protocol and precision. And this is the part most people miss: behind every checkpoint, there are ordinary people seeking safety, not headlines. Here is a fully rewritten version of the original content that preserves every key detail while offering clearer explanations, a smoother flow, and a tone that’s professional yet accessible.
Inside the Rafah Crossing Point: Reflections on a Border Assistance Mission in a High-Risk Environment
Captain Anxo Sangiao Paseiro of the Guardia Civil, who served as Security Team Leader for the Specialised Teams, shares his nine-month deployment experience with the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah). His account covers the Gaza–Egypt border and the mission’s operations from 31 January to 17 March 2025, as EUBAM Rafah prepared for redeployment.
Under Spain’s Guardia Civil, operating within the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR), EUBAM Rafah brought together Specialised Teams that included border and security personnel from Italy’s Carabinieri and France’s Gendarmerie Nationale. They worked amid shifting security conditions, logistical obstacles, and urgent humanitarian needs. Acting as a neutral third party, the mission supported border authorities and helped facilitate the movement of nearly 4,200 passengers, including about 1,700 medical evacuees arriving in Egypt.
A Mission Carried Forward by Urgency
“The deployment began under intense time pressure,” Captain Sangiao recalls. “We assembled in Vicenza on 26 January, then had only two days to prepare before flying to the region on an Italian Air Force aircraft. Training and proper introductions were nearly impossible in those moments.”
From the outset, the team designed security protocols for the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) and established coordination with the Palestinian Border Authorities, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and UN partners. This was an accelerated start to a profoundly complex assignment.
Daily Frontline Operations
Days began at 6:00 a.m., first in Beersheba and later in Ashkelon, with a stop at an Israeli military base to collect protective gear before a convoy headed to the RCP. On site, security teams cleared the area while border experts positioned themselves at checkpoints and scanner rooms to verify documents, confirm identities, and manage passenger flows.
“Each day, around 14 personnel were involved: border experts, security staff, and EUBAM Rafah personnel,” Captain Sangiao explains. “WHO convoys transported patients and relatives, who were then transferred by Palestinian ambulances through the RCP.”
Security Pressures in a Volatile Zone
The teams operated inside a highly unstable buffer zone. Daily clashes and occasional mortar alerts occurred as close as 200 meters from the crossing. Multiple evacuation procedures were drafted—ranging from responses to direct fire to managing crowd surges—though none had to be activated during the deployment.
Human Moments That Leave a Mark
Although the mission was not humanitarian by mandate, its human dimension was impossible to ignore. Team members met injured children, anxious parents, and exhausted families navigating gravel paths between checkpoints.
One memory stands out for Captain Sangiao: “A six-year-old girl, dehydrated after a long journey, was given a bottle of water. She kissed my hand. She was so grateful… I will never forget it.”
Despite such moments, strict professionalism remained essential. Every person and every bag required thorough screening, because vulnerable civilians could be moving alongside individuals with armed affiliations.
Adapting on the Ground to Keep the Flow Safe
To prevent bottlenecks, golf carts were introduced to transport severely injured passengers along the roughly 500-meter route inside the RCP. Additional measures improved safety and comfort: starting operations earlier to avoid extreme heat, expanding shaded areas, and repositioning protective T-walls to shield passengers and staff from potential fire.
A Mission Built on Professionalism and Resilience
Even as risks fluctuated and the environment exacted emotional tolls, Captain Sangiao identifies three sustaining qualities: professionalism, teamwork, and resilience. These elements enabled EUBAM Rafah’s Specialised Teams to support the Palestinian Border Authorities and ensure a secure, orderly passage for everyone crossing.
Nine months into the mission, Captain Sangiao and his Guardia Civil colleagues concluded their deployment, leaving behind strengthened procedures, lasting memories, and a smooth handover to successors continuing the work at the RCP.
Recognition and Closure
For their outstanding performance, the team received the Guardia Civil’s 2025 Award and were granted a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
If you found these reflections insightful, consider how border missions balance security with humanity in volatile zones. Do you think international border assistance should prioritize speed over all else, or is a careful, methodical approach more effective in protecting civilians and stabilizing the region? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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