WARSAW

Poland’s foreign minister said Thursday that Polish consular services are assisting four Polish citizens detained by Israeli authorities on Wednesday evening for taking part in the humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, but warned that the government has long advised against traveling to dangerous regions.

Speaking at a press conference in Gdansk, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly appealed against travel to certain parts of the world. There are countries like Iran, Belarus, and Russia that simply take citizens of Western countries hostage. I'll say this bluntly to those who would violate our recommendations: I don't have any hostages for exchange. You travel at your own risk.” He also confirmed that Polish diplomatic officials were assisting the detained Polish citizens he said were “in trouble.”

"Parliamentary immunity applies only within the country. Just as diplomatic immunity applies only in the country where it was granted. We, as a consular service, are in contact, but I once again ask you not to travel to dangerous areas," said Sikorski, when asked about the participation of Civic Coalition MP Franciszek Sterczewski in the humanitarian ship travelling to the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Navy began intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla late Wednesday. Four members of the Polish delegation, including a ruling party Civic Coalition (PO) MP, were among those detained.

Israel has since announced plans to deport flotilla activists to Europe.

Maciej Wewior, spokesman for Poland’s Foreign Ministry also commented on the detainees, stating: "We are monitoring the situation related to the detention of the vessels. Among them are vessels carrying Polish citizens. According to our information, they are safe and no one was injured. The Polish Consul is already in Ashdod, where the detainees are being transferred. No Polish citizen will be left unattended."

A video statement recorded by Sterczewski and shared via the Global Movement to Gaza Poland claimed that he had been kidnapped. “If you are seeing this video, it means I have been kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces in international waters during the peaceful humanitarian mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla.”

The flotilla includes citizens from more than 40 countries.

Sikorski also criticized what he described as past government decisions that allowed some small vessels to obtain Polish registration too easily. “Another issue is the excessive ease, seemingly due to the decisions of the previous government, in obtaining a Polish flag for some small vessels,” he said.