During a Polish Sejm session, a Confederation MP displayed an Israeli flag defaced with a swastika and accused Israel of genocide, prompting condemnation.
MP Berkowicz’s Controversial Display
During Tuesday’s Sejm session, MP Konrad Berkowicz of the Confederation party made a controversial statement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He claimed that the rising fuel prices in Poland are a consequence of events in the Middle East, but more significantly, that the suffering of Palestinian children exceeds that in Ukraine.
Berkowicz further alleged that Israel is using banned white phosphorus bombs, causing death by asphyxiation and severe burns. He stated that even if individuals survive the initial effects, the white phosphorus adheres to the skin and burns down to the bone.
Accusations of Genocide and Nazi Comparison
Berkowicz declared that Israel is committing genocide with particular cruelty, equating Israel to a “new Third Reich.” He then presented a visual aid: an Israeli flag with a swastika superimposed on it.
Reactions and Legal Concerns
Sławomir Ćwik, a member of the Centrum party, immediately reacted to Berkowicz’s actions. He accused Berkowicz of propagating Nazi symbols within the Polish Sejm and violating Article 256, paragraph 2 of the Polish Penal Code.
Ćwik requested that the Sejm record the incident and forward it to the Polish prosecutor’s office for investigation.
Human Rights Watch Report on White Phosphorus Use
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have consistently reported on Israel’s use of white phosphorus, a weapon prohibited under international law due to its severe burning effects upon contact with skin. The IDF has recently used this weapon in Lebanon and previously in the Gaza Strip, but denies these reports.
Berkowicz’s History of Controversial Statements
Konrad Berkowicz has a history of making anti-Israel statements. In May 2019, he sparked outrage by placing a kippah on the head of his political opponent, Anna Krupka of the PiS party, during a debate before the European Parliament elections. This action was condemned by the then-Polish ambassador to Tel Aviv, Marek Magierowski.