The Ministry of Diplomacy in a communiqué issued on Friday announced that the Citizens of the Republic of Poland were proposed to take advantage of the accelerated deportation procedure. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Poles, like other participants of the flotilla, refused to sign the declaration of voluntary return.
Among the detainees are four Polish participants: MP KO Franciszek Sterczewski, president of the Social and Cultural Association of Polish Palestinians Omar Faris, president of the Nina Ptak Nina Association as well as journalist and activist Ewa Jasiewicz.
Humanitarian flotilla. Poles refused to deport
“The citizens of the Republic of Poland were offered the opportunity to take advantage of the accelerated procedure to leave Israel and return to Poland today. (…) Everyone refused to sign a declaration of voluntary submission to deportation. This means that they will now be waiting for a trial before Israel's court “ – we read in the department of the ministry.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that the detainees were safe. They are healthy, safe and have access to legal and medical consultations. The Consul of the Republic of Poland remains in constant contact with them. “The ministry will provide detainees to consular assistance throughout the proceedings. The Polish foreign service constantly monitors the development of the situation in the Middle East,” added in the statement.
The Sumud Flotilla, on the deck of Poles, was detained by the Israeli Navy in international waters, about 80 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip. The flotilla included about 40 boats, with over 400 volunteers from 47 countries. The incident took place at night from Wednesday to Thursday.
Israel has long been maintaining the sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, arguing that this is to prevent weapon supplies to the territory controlled by HAMAS. The Sumud Flotilla, like previous initiatives of this type, was aimed at paying attention to the humanitarian situation in the region.
