The Polish Executive has summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires in Warsaw this Thursday to convey a formal complaint regarding the "extremely inappropriate behavior" of the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, after he disseminated a video on Wednesday in which he reprimands and humiliates the activists of the last flotilla intercepted in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
"Poland strongly condemns the actions of Israeli officials towards the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by the Israeli Army, including Polish citizens," stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, who specified that the Israeli diplomatic representative will be summoned "immediately" to express the official protest and demand "an apology" for Ben Gvir's actions.
In a message disseminated on social networks, Sikorski also called for "the immediate release" of the Polish activists and asked the Israeli authorities to guarantee "treatment in line with international standards" for all detainees.
"The fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Polish citizens against traveling to Israel and Palestine does not mean that we tolerate violations of their rights and dignity. The safety of our citizens remains our top priority," added the head of Polish diplomacy.
Along these lines, he emphasized that the Polish Embassy in Israel, "in collaboration with the consular services of the countries whose representatives were also traveling aboard the vessels intercepted by Israeli forces," is working to be able to interview the arrested individuals "as soon as possible."
Later, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maciej Wewior, explained to the media that Sikorski has decided to register a request to ban Ben Gvir from entering Polish territory. The request has been sent to the Ministry of the Interior, although it has not yet been reported whether it will be accepted.
During his appearance, Wewior stressed that "the Israeli representative has heard a very clear opinion about what has been seen recently, also online, and Poland's indignation at this type of behavior," again alluding to Ben Gvir, as reported by the Polish public broadcaster TVP.
Ben Gvir disseminated a video in which he appears waving an Israeli flag and walking among handcuffed international activists on their knees in the port of Ashdod, where they were transferred by the Israeli Navy. "This is how we receive those who support terrorism. Welcome to Israel," he said.
The images show dozens of activists kneeling with their heads to the ground, surrounded by armed officers, while the Israeli anthem plays through loudspeakers. The video also captures the transfer of several detainees, handcuffed and with heads bowed, a scene that has generated a wave of criticism internationally and even within the Israeli government itself.