Polish PM sparks row accusing Israel of starving Gaza civilians

Jerusalem summons Polish ambassador for dressing down after Prime Minister Donald Tusk accuses Israel of starving Gazans, comparing situation to World War II.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

The Prime Minister of Poland sparked a diplomatic row with Israel this week with accusations that the Jewish state has caused a famine in the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk published a tweet in Polish expressing support for Israel’s war with Hamas, while at the same time accusing Israel of causing a famine in Gaza which, he claimed, has killed “mothers and their children.”

“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 their children,” Tusk wrote, invoking the legacy of World War II.

“This must be obvious to nations that together went through the hell of World War II.”

On Monday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry pushed back on Tusk’s comments, slamming his attempt to compare the war in Gaza to the Second World War.

“Unfortunately, Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk is linking his timely condemnation of Hamas with an unacceptable reference to politicians, accompanied by a reminder of the horrible days of World War II,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“The Prime Minister of Poland should remember the lesson of ‘Never Again.’
Never Again, Prime Minister Tusk, 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.”

A day later, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Polish Ambassador to Israel, Maciej Hunia, for a formal dressing down over Tusk’s “unacceptable statements.”

“Israel firmly rejects these accusations and expects Poland to refrain from using language that distorts history and dishonors the memory of Holocaust victims,” the ministry announced.

“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.”