Poland is currently awaiting Israel’s consent to carry out the evacuation of approximately 30 Polish citizens stranded in the Gaza Strip, as the Rafah land crossing reopens, according to statements made by a deputy Polish foreign minister.
These Polish nationals found themselves in a precarious situation when Israel launched an extensive military campaign involving airstrikes and ground operations in response to Hamas attacks on southern Israel, commencing on October 7.
Paweł Jablonski, Deputy Head of the Polish Foreign Ministry, revealed that efforts to secure the evacuation have been in motion since October 9, the day when they submitted the list of Polish citizens seeking to be evacuated. Speaking to private broadcaster Radio Zet on Tuesday, Jablonski stated, “We’re waiting for it to be formally approved currently by the Israeli side.”
In a noteworthy development, negotiations were conducted at the Polish Foreign Ministry on Monday, bringing together the Egyptian, Israeli, and Palestinian ambassadors. The primary objective of these discussions was to pave the way for the evacuation of Polish citizens, a necessity now that the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has reopened.
Jablonski remarked, “We talked to the Israeli ambassador about it yesterday. We hope it will be approved soon.”
The diplomatic efforts underway are vital in ensuring the safe return of Polish citizens who have found themselves caught in a complex and challenging situation due to the recent conflict in the region.