Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced on Thursday, May 21, the immediate summoning of the Israeli chargé d’affaires to demand an apology for the treatment of detained Polish activists.
Diplomatic Ultimatum
The Polish Foreign Ministry has expressed its indignation regarding the conduct of an Israeli government official. Warsaw is demanding an immediate apology for what it describes as “extremely inappropriate behavior” by a member of the Israeli cabinet.
Minister Sikorski emphasized the demand for the immediate release of Polish citizens held in Israeli custody. While acknowledging that the ministry had previously advised against travel to Israel and Palestine, he stressed that this does not validate the violation of citizens’ rights or dignity.
Polish consuls are currently on the ground cooperating with international counterparts whose citizens were also aboard the intercepted vessels. Warsaw expects immediate access to the detainees.
Controversial Conduct and Detention
On Wednesday, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, posted a video on X showing the treatment of activists from the flotilla intercepted in international waters. The footage depicts detainees, including a woman being pulled by her hair, kneeling with their hands bound while Ben-Gvir tells them, “Welcome to Israel. We are the masters of the house.”
The final Polish activist, Kareem Awad, a medical student from Wrocław, was intercepted on May 19. He joins Łukasz Kozak and Agata Wisłocka, who were detained the previous day. All three are being transported to an Israeli port.
Rafał Piotrowski, spokesperson for the Polish section of the Sumud Flotilla, stated that Israeli forces opened fire on at least three vessels: the Girolama, the Elenga, and the Polish-flagged Zefiro. Activists can be heard shouting “don’t shoot us” in recordings of the incident.