Undersecretary of State Wojciech Gerwel, who represented Poland on behalf of Minister Zbigniew Rau, stressed that Warsaw welcomed the information on temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which resulted in the release of some of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip and enabled the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to the enclave. The deputy minister voiced his expectation that all hostages should soon be set free. Additionally, he recalled that Poland invariably supports the implementation of a two-state solution based on agreed parameters, which is why it has been active on all fora that could contribute to a lasting settlement of the conflict. During the discussion, the participants also expressed concern over settlers’ violence in the West Bank and the decisions the Israeli government has recently taken regarding the development of illegal settlements.

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The Regional Forum, a regular ministerial-level meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean, convened for the eighth time. Seated in Barcelona, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) was launched in Paris in 2008. The purpose of establishing the UfM was to give a new impetus to collaboration in the Mediterranean, including by strengthening political dialogue and project cooperation. The organisation brings together 43 countries, including all EU member states, countries of the Southern Mediterranean, along with Israel and Palestine, as well as the Balkan countries and Türkiye. The 2023 Regional Forum was also attended by Saudi Arabia, as the country’s foreign minister was the event’s special guest.

 

Photo: Barbara Milkowska / MFA