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Poland leads early evacuations amid Middle East crisis

17.06.2025 11:55
Poland’s Foreign Ministry is set to hold a crisis team meeting at noon on Tuesday as part of its early and ongoing efforts to evacuate Polish citizens from Israel amid escalating conflict in the region.
Henryka Mościcka-Dendys and Paweł Wroński at the Foreign Ministry briefing on the situation in the Middle East, June 17, 2025, Warsaw, Poland.
Henryka Mościcka-Dendys and Paweł Wroński at the Foreign Ministry briefing on the situation in the Middle East, June 17, 2025, Warsaw, Poland.Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

More than 300 Polish nationals are expected to be evacuated via Jordan, with the operation scheduled to conclude by Thursday. The evacuation concerns only the territory of Israel and does not extend to the wider region affected by the conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister Henryka Mościcka-Dendys and ministry spokesperson Paweł Wroński will brief the media later in the day.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that the Polish military has been on standby since the morning of June 13 and is fully prepared to assist if requested by the Foreign Ministry.

Polish officials continue to coordinate closely with NATO allies, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, to ensure a unified response.

FM Sikorski highlights Poland’s rapid evacuation efforts

On Monday evening, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski emphasised Poland’s swift action. Speaking to Polish broadcaster TVN24, he said: “We’re carrying out this evacuation as one of the first. I’ve just learned that Germany is now doing the same, but France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have not initiated such efforts yet.”

The head of Polish diplomacy added that Poland was the first major EU country to launch evacuations and expressed frustration that some Polish citizens have ignored government warnings to stay away from conflict zones. “We plead with them not to go, and they still go,” Sikorski said.

Concerns over rising number of Poles in conflict zone

Sikorski also voiced concern over the sharp increase in the number of Polish nationals traveling to the Middle East despite official warnings. The number has grown from about 60 to over 300 in recent days.

“When we beg people not to go, they go anyway,” he said, calling this behaviour irresponsible given the ongoing security risks.

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Source: MSZ/MON/IAR/PAP/TVN24