RAMALLAH, May 21, 2026 (WAFA) – Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced on Thursday that he had summoned the Israeli chargé 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 said, "Poland strongly condemns the conduct of representatives of the Israeli authorities towards the activists of the global Steadfastness Flotilla, who were detained by the Israeli army, including Polish citizens."
He added that Poland expects its citizens to be treated in accordance with international standards and that consular officials are working to reach the detainees.
He continued, saying that the Israeli chargé d'affaires was summoned "to express our strong condemnation and demand an apology for the highly inappropriate conduct of a member of the Israeli government."
In a related development, European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "shocked" by the treatment of the aid flotilla members who attempted to reach the Gaza Strip at the hands of Israel's extremist National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Costa wrote on X: “I am shocked by Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the flotilla members. This behavior is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release.”
A video released Wednesday showed Israeli police forcing activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs, while Ben-Gvir watched and commented.
In a related development, the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has requested that Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir be barred from entering the country. This request follows a wave of anger in Warsaw over the arrest of activists from the Global Flotilla bound for Gaza.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Włwewor told reporters, "Minister Sikorski has decided to ask the Interior Ministry to issue a decision barring Ben-Gvir from entering Poland because of his actions."
Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "shocked" by the treatment of the aid flotilla members who attempted to reach the Gaza Strip at the hands of Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
"I am shocked by Ben-Gvir's treatment of the flotilla members. This behavior is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release," Costa said in a statement on the X platform. A video released Wednesday showed Israeli police forcing activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel in rows with their hands tied behind their backs, while Ben-Gvir watched and commented.
The Sri Lankan government expressed its concern over the treatment of the aid flotilla members by Ben-Gvir.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is continuing its efforts to secure the safe passage of the affected Sri Lankan citizen, including guarantees of her safety, well-being, and dignity, and her swift and safe return to Sri Lanka, reaffirming its full commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
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