Poland has called upon Israel to provide compensation for the death of a World Central Kitchen aid worker in the Gaza Strip, announced on Thursday. Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, demanded an apology from Israel for the killing of the Polish aid worker, Damian Sobol, in Gaza.
In addition to an apology, Tusk insisted on compensation for Sobol’s family. Sobol was one of seven aid workers killed in an airstrike on Gaza. “We expect an immediate clarification of the circumstances and compensation for the victims’ families,” Donald Tusk stated at a press conference.
Tusk expressed on Wednesday that the Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of aid workers in Gaza and the reaction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has understandably caused “anger” and strained relations with Warsaw.
Netanyahu commented on Tuesday that the airstrike, which killed employees of the charitable organization World Central Kitchen, was tragic and unintended, stating, “This happens in war.”
Israel’s ambassador to Poland, Yakov Livni, mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday that both the “far-right and left” in Poland are accusing Israel of deliberate killing, adding, “Antisemitism will always remain antisemitism.”
Tusk wrote on X, “Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ambassador Livni, the vast majority of Poles have shown full solidarity with Israel following the Hamas attack… Today, you put this solidarity to a truly difficult test. The tragic attack on volunteers and your reaction, Netanyahu, provokes understandable anger.”
The tragic incident involving the Israeli airstrike on aid workers in Gaza has garnered widespread international condemnation. The attack, which occurred in the central Gaza Strip’s Deir el-Balah, resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), a United States-based aid group. The victims were of various nationalities, including Palestinian, Australian, Canadian-US, Polish, and UK citizens
The attack has sparked a global outcry, with leaders and officials from around the world expressing their horror and demanding immediate action. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the unacceptable nature of the attack, especially given the victims were providing humanitarian assistance. UK Foreign Minister David Cameron and Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed deep concerns and demanded investigations and accountability.