A court in Israel is waiting for them. Three Poles from the flotilla refused voluntary deportation

The Consul of the Republic of Poland in Israel met with three Poles detained on board flotilla ships flowing into the Gaza Strip; They refused voluntary deportation, they were waiting for a trial before a court in Israel; We will provide full consular assistance – the Foreign Minister spokesman said on Friday.

Israel stopped from Wednesday night to Thursday over 470 participants and 41 boats of global Sumud (GSF) flotilla, which was heading towards the Gaza Strip. On Friday, GSF announced the seizure of the last, 42nd ship. 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.

“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. The Israeli ambassador assured that Israel cares about the soonest deportation of all detainees, but this requires the consent of the detainees themselves. Everyone refused to sign a declaration of voluntary deportation. – we read in the announcement of the Foreign Minister Maciej Wewióra.

He emphasized that Polish citizens are safe, healthy, and also have the opportunity to consult legal and medical. He added that the Consul of the Republic of Poland remains in touch with the detained.

The ministry will provide detainees to consular assistance throughout the proceedings. The Polish foreign service is constantly monitored by the development of the situation in the Middle East – added a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski earlier said PAP that if detained people agree voluntarily deported, they would be able to leave the country. – We are already dealing with logistics issues. (…) However, if they do not agree voluntarily, after 72 hours they will stand in court and then the case is more difficult – noted Bartoszewski.

He also emphasized that the Crisis Management Center operates in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the situation is under control and full consular help is ready. – The state fulfills its duties – assured the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs already assured that Polish citizens from the Flotilla detained by the Israeli authorities are safe, and the Consul of the Republic of Poland would help them “within the law and the realities of war”. The ministry also appealed to refrain from traveling to places covered by armed conflict.

The Sumud Flotilla, consisting of about 40 boats and over 400 volunteers from 47 countries, was detained on Wednesday night by Thursday by the Israeli Navy in international waters at a distance of about 80 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip.

Global Movement to Gaza Poland said that all boats were detained on which there were members of the Polish delegation: MP Franciszek Sterczewski (KO), president of the Social and Cultural Association of Polish Palestinians Omar Faris, president of the Nomada Nina Ptak Association, and journalist and activist Ewa Jasiewicz, author of the book “Stoin Gaza”, which has British citizenship.

Global Sumud Flotilla is an international initiative in which representatives of over 40 countries participate. Activists estimated that they would arrive on Thursday morning. The Israeli authorities had already announced that they would not allow the flotilla to get closer to Gaza.

The takeover of the flotilla caused a wave of demonstration in European cities, including in Rome, Naples, Turin, Barcelona, ​​Paris, Dublin, Geneva, Berlin, Hague, Istanbul and Athens. Many were also organized in Buenos Aires, Mexico and Karachi. Italian trade unions convened a general strike for Friday. On Thursday, the demonstration also took place in Warsaw. There were incidents: the glass was broken in the door to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the manifestation began, and the entrance was covered with red paint. The police intervened. The manifestation later underwent, among others at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Sejm.

40 organizations and over 100 social activists and social workers in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and foreign minister Radosław Sikorski appealed to the release of Poles detained by Israel and the firm response of Poland to Gas genocide. (PAP)

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