On October 10, Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski replied to accusations from MP Sławomir Mentzen over the removal of a woman by security during a public meeting, sparking a heated exchange that highlighted tensions over Israel‑Gaza claims.
Sikorski Accuses Mentzen of Manipulation
Radosław Sikorski responded on Friday, October 10, to a post by MP Sławomir Mentzen that criticized security’s removal of a woman during his meeting with the foreign ministry. Sikorski stated he had spent the whole day in Ukraine and had not monitored the alleged manipulation by Mentzen, calling the “cheap trick” a poor way to build authority in politics.
Mentzen Calls Sikorski a “Burak”
In a second statement, Mentzen wrote that two bodyguards had forcibly removed a woman from a meeting with Sikorski after the minister posed a difficult question about genocide in Gaza. Mentzen described Sikorski’s reply—“too bad she didn’t wait”—as arrogant and criticized the minister’s supposed respect for women, labeling the incident a “brashness from a ‘burak’ of the Chobielin estate.”
Woman Removed from Meeting with Sikorski
The incident took place Thursday, October 9, when Sikorski met residents in Przemyśl. During the encounter a woman raised questions about Israeli policies, referencing claims that a Palestinian with a Polish passport was forced to kneel in sandals that had belonged to Israeli prisoners for six hours. Security intervened, and the woman was escorted out. Sikorski later remarked that he was not afraid of questions and would defend his views.
Sikorski’s Response to the Allegations
In his reply, Sikorski defended his conduct and criticized the woman’s conduct during the meeting. He dismissed the removal as unnecessary, saying “too bad she didn’t wait,” and reaffirmed his willingness to confront difficult questions regarding the Gaza situation.