Foreign Ministry summons Polish envoy after Tusk accuses Israel of causing Gaza starvation

Following remarks from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accusing Israeli politicians of causing starvation in Gaza, the Foreign Ministry summoned Polish ambassador to Israel Maciej Hunia for a dressing down today, the ministry says in a statement.

Hunia was summoned “for an official demarche by the head of the Political-Strategic Division, following unacceptable statements made by the prime minister of Poland,” says the ministry in a statement.

“Israel firmly rejects these accusations and expects Poland to refrain from using language that distorts history and dishonors the memory of Holocaust victims. The head of the Division emphasized that Israel is fighting a terrorist organization that openly seeks the murder of Jews and Israelis, and the destruction of Israel,” the statement reads.

“Israel acts under international humanitarian law and has significantly expanded its humanitarian aid efforts — including the entry of additional aid convoys into the Gaza Strip, humanitarian pauses, the opening of safe passage routes for aid delivery, infrastructure repairs, and airdrops of humanitarian supplies — including coordination with the European Union,” adds the ministry.

On Sunday, in a Polish-language post on X that sparked strong criticism from the Foreign Ministry, Tusk stated: “Poland was, is, and will be on Israel’s side in its confrontation with Islamic terrorism, but never on the side of politicians whose actions lead to hunger and the death of mothers and children. This must be obvious to nations that together went through the hell of World War II.”

In response, the Foreign Ministry yesterday accused the Polish premier of “linking his timely condemnation of Hamas with an unacceptable reference to politicians, accompanied by a reminder of the horrible days of World War II,” and encouraged the premier to “remember the lesson of ‘Never Again,'” referencing the slogan associated with remembrance of the Holocaust, the systemic genocide of six million Jews which was largely carried out in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II.

“Never Again…applies to our era’s new Nazis and their collaborators, Hamas. Israel acts within international law. When Poland is threatened, you don’t take risks either,” wrote the ministry.