Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that Polish citizens have safely landed in Athens and are on their way home after being released from Israeli detention, as Israel continues to deport a further 171 Polish nationals.
Polish officials confirm safe landings
Radosław Sikorski said during a Monday press conference at 5 p.m. that Polish citizens were “whole and healthy” after a meeting with Ambassador Maciej Huni and the consul. He reported that the citizens landed in Athens and are now en route to Poland.
Israel deporting 171 additional Polish nationals
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday that it had deported 171 more people from the Global Sumud fleet to Greece and Slovakia, continuing a series of expulsions.
Countries of return for the deportees
The deportees are being sent to Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, United Kingdom, Serbia, and the United States.
Notable deportees include Greta Thunberg and other Polish activists
Among those deported are climate activist Greta Thunberg, activist Ewa Jasiewicz (who was deported to Turkey over the weekend), Nomada Association president Nina Ptak, Civic Platform MP Franciszek Sterczewski, and Omar Faris, president of the Polish‑Kurdish Cultural Association.
Israeli forces intercept humanitarian aid flotilla
Most vessels of the aid flotilla bound for Gaza were seized overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, with the last vessel taken by an Israeli warship on Friday. Nearly 500 people of various nationalities were transported to Israel, with deportations continuing to their countries of origin.
