Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Four of his ribs were broken
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Marwan al-Barghouti lost consciousness after a brutal assault by Israeli occupation soldiers
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh

Polish former premier to be investigated in Israeli spyware case

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Mar 2024 21:38
3 Min Read

The parliament accuses the leader of Poland's main populist party of spying on opposition figures and parties using Israeli spyware Pegasus.

  • x
  • Polish former premier to be investigated in Israeli spyware case
    A smartphone with a lock screen on display and the logo of the Israeli NSO spyware firm in the background in 2022 (AFP)

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Poland's primary populist party and the country's former prime minister, appeared before a parliamentary commission on Friday to address accusations regarding the use of the Israeli spyware Pegasus during the party's leadership of Poland's previous government.

The Law and Justice (PiS) party, in power from 2015 to 2023, is under suspicion of having spied on opposition politicians and judges who were critical of its administration.

Read more: Researchers expose Pegasus' methods of hacking newest iPhones: Report

Developed by the Israeli NSO Group, Pegasus, which can seize control of a smartphone's microphone and camera, hit global headlines when a leak in 2021 showed how governments used it to spy on critics, journalists, and NGOs.

In 2022, Kaczynski admitted that his government purchased the notorious spyware software but denied that it had been used against the opposition.

Ahead of Friday's inquiry, the head of the commission, Magdalena Sroka, said

The party leader was chosen to testify first because of his "responsibility for the actions of the Law and Justice Party, which was in power until 2023," the head of the commission said ahead of the Friday probe.

Read more: Zuckerberg apologizes to his platforms' victims at committee hearing

Related News

Russia links Kiev to fake drone attacks aimed at sparking war with EU

Poland seeks to overstep NATO to allow downing jets over Ukraine

Magdalena Sroka added that buying and operating Pegasus had "no basis" in law.

The parliamentary commission will review the purposes and legality of employing Pegasus, as well as attempt to determine the acquisition process of this and other similar systems by Poland.

Multiple sources within the new governing coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that the undisclosed list of individuals to be interrogated could be "very long" and "shocking".

Citizen Lab, a Canada-based cybersecurity specialist group, reported that the Israeli spyware was utilized against multiple individuals in Poland.

Among the targets was Krzysztof Brejza, a current member of the European Parliament and former coordinator of the electoral campaign for the opposition party Civic Platform during the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Read more: Two spyware firms owned by Israeli ex-general blacklisted in US: NYT

The new Polish parliament has initiated two additional inquiry committees regarding the actions of Kaczynski's previous government. One concerning the unsuccessful organization of presidential elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, and another regarding the widespread issuance of paid-for Polish visas by consulates in different countries.

NSO, which faces multiple lawsuits from Apple and others, has repeatedly insisted it sells its software only to government clients and only for peaceful purposes.

But the 2021 leak suggested there were around 50,000 potential victims of Pegasus around the world, many of whom were opposition figures, journalists, and activists.

  • Poland
  • Jaroslaw Kaczynski
  • Pegasus

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’
Politics

UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’

Thousands trapped in El Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report
Politics

Thousands trapped in El-Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report

Trump links aid to Milei’s midterm success, blackmailing Argentinians.
US & Canada

Trump 'extorts' Argentinians, links aid to Milei’s midterm success

Six foreigners barred as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk
Politics

6 foreigners' visas revoked as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS