Deputy FM: Poland halts lethal weapons supplies to Israel

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna has announced that the new Polish government has ceased supplying lethal weapons to Israel.

This decision comes in the wake of Israel's ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian Hamas movement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Previously, Polish lawmakers had reported the continuation of such arms supplies following the events of October 7, 2023.

“There have been no such supplies, at least not under the coalition government formed after the parliamentary elections on October 15. We certainly would not have committed to providing Israel with weapons that could be used against the Palestinian people, especially civilians,” Szejna stated in response to questions about Polish arms deliveries to Israel.

However, Szejna did not rule out the possibility that such supplies may have occurred under the previous government.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated after militants from the Palestinian Hamas radical group breached Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. This incursion resulted in the killing of residents in border towns and the abduction of 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military and political structures and securing the release of all hostages. 

By late February 2024, Israel's Defence Ministry reported that it had purchased nearly $10 billion worth of weaponry from Israeli manufacturers since the operation began, to be independent from foreign suppliers. A month later, Kan radio station revealed that Israel was exploring alternative methods for acquiring weapons and materials to expand its domestic arms production.