The French frigate “Germinal” off Gaza. Order of Sarkozy

A French helicopter carrier frigate, the Germinal (F-735), will deploy in international waters off Gaza for surveillance actions, "in full cooperation with Egypt and Israel“, announced the Elysee. And close coordination with the United States and European partners will be initiated to propose additional actions “in the fight against the smuggling of weapons by sea and land”.

This action should make it possible to accompany a total and permanent reopening of the crossing points to Gaza, it is estimated in Paris. Who also wants two things:

1) the rapid reactivation under European supervision of the Rafah checkpoint (this is done, in fact, because reinforcements have started to arrive, as part of a accelerated deployment plan);

2) the extension of the ESDP EUBAM Rafah mission to checkpoints between Gaza and Israel. Two subjects which will be discussed Monday at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union. Which corresponds to the range of actions announced a few days ago in a previous post.

The Germinal, a frigate commissioned in 1994 is equipped with a Panther helicopter and is commanded by Commander François Majoufre. He was currently cruising off Lebanon as part of the TF 448 operation. It takes him half a day to reach the surveillance zone assigned to him.

(NGV)

(photo: French Navy)