Poland and the Czech Republic have initiated the evacuation of their citizens from Israel as tensions with Iran intensify. Following Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, which occurred on June 13, both countries have been involved in a series of missile and drone attacks. Reports indicate that the conflict has resulted in casualties, with at least 14 fatalities in Israel and 224 in Iran as of Sunday evening, according to the respective authorities.
Polish evacuation efforts
The Polish Foreign Ministry has announced plans to evacuate approximately 200 citizens using bus transport to Jordan, from where they will take flights back to Warsaw. Deputy Foreign Minister Henryka Mościcka-Dendys informed the press on Monday, stating, “We estimate that we will be ready within several dozen hours. The evacuation will concern tourists and Poles who are staying in Israel for a short period of time.”
Czech citizens repatriated
Similarly, the Czech Foreign Ministry has called for citizens wishing to return home to register with the embassy in Tel Aviv. According to local media, around 70 Czech nationals have already begun their journey to a neighboring country before flying home. Veronika Kuchyňová Šmigolová, the Czech ambassador to Israel, noted that security concerns prevent her from disclosing the name of the country from which the citizens will depart. She also indicated that the first flight will primarily accommodate women and children, with additional evacuation flights expected to follow. Other Czech citizens are reportedly making their own arrangements to leave.
As the situation unfolds, Israeli airspace remains closed. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remarked on Friday that “the Zionist regime has prepared a bitter and painful fate for itself.” In response to Iran’s retaliatory actions, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, cautioned that “Tehran will burn” if it continues its aggression.
European leaders have called for restraint and a diplomatic approach to resolve the ongoing conflict. However, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. countered these calls for peace on Sunday, asserting that “the objective is not to contain the war. The objective is to win the war.”
This article has been updated.