Warsaw: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced on Thursday that he had summoned the Israeli charg© d'affaires following the detention of activists aboard the 'Global Sumud Flotilla,' which was heading to the Gaza Strip, including Polish citizens. In a statement posted on X, Sikorski emphasized that Poland strongly condemns the conduct of Israeli authorities towards the detained activists, including Polish nationals.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, Sikorski expressed Poland's expectation that its citizens should be treated in line with international standards, and assured that consular officials are actively working to reach the detainees. He further stated that the Israeli charg© d'affaires was summoned to express Poland's strong condemnation and demand an apology for what he described as inappropriate conduct by a member of the Israeli government.
In a related development, European Council President Antonio Costa voiced his shock over the treatment of the aid flotilla members by Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Costa took to X to express his disapproval, calling the behavior completely unacceptable and urging for the immediate release of the detained activists. A video released earlier showed Israeli police forcing the activists to kneel with their hands tied, while Ben-Gvir watched.
Furthermore, the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that Foreign Minister Sikorski has requested that Ben-Gvir be barred from entering Poland. This move comes amid widespread anger in Warsaw over the arrest of the Global Flotilla activists. Spokesperson Maciej Wlwewor stated Sikorski's intention to ask the Interior Ministry to officially bar Ben-Gvir from entry due to his actions.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government also expressed concern over the treatment of its citizen aboard the flotilla. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of its national, while working towards her swift return to Sri Lanka.