Israeli forces on Monday struck a three-vehicle aid convoy run by the NGO World Central Kitchen, killing three British nationals, a Polish citizen, an Australian, a dual US-Canada national, and a Palestinian, according to reports.
The attack has drawn international outrage and condemnation.
"The meeting with the Israeli ambassador was very firm on the Polish side," Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna told a press conference on Friday.
He said he handed Livne "a note of protest" and declared that Poland "expects accountability for the responsible parties."
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna and ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński talk to reporters in Warsaw on Friday. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
'The ambassador apologized for this event'
Szejna told reporters that the Israeli ambassador "apologized for this event, which has no precedent in the history of the civilised world."
During the meeting, Szejna outlined Warsaw's expectations for a comprehensive and transparent investigation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
'We expect a transparent investigation'
"We expect a transparent investigation into the attack on the humanitarian convoy in Gaza," Szejna said.
"We also demand access to all information so that the explanation of the case is satisfactory," he added.
He further stated that, despite calls from some opposition politicians, the Israeli ambassador would not be expelled from Poland.
Szejna revealed that the government wants Polish prosecutors to take part "in the criminal investigation against the soldiers who carried out the attack on the humanitarian convoy."
'Compensation for the victims'
In its diplomatic note to Israel, the Polish foreign ministry "demanded compensation for the victims killed in the humanitarian convoy in the Gaza Strip, including, above all, the Polish citizen, his family, but on condition that the family wants it," Szejna said, as cited by the PAP news agency.
When asked about the repatriation of the Polish volunteer's remains, Szejna said that a military aircraft would transport the body of Damian Soból back home.
'We share in the grief of the families': Israeli ambassador
Livne said in an X post that, in his meeting with Szejna on Friday, he reiterated "his personal deep sorrow and sincere apologies over the tragic death of World Central Kitchen workers, including the Polish citizen Mr. Damian Soból."
Livne added: "We share in the grief of the families from the bottom of our hearts."
He also said he assured Szejna that "Israel is fully committed to a transparent and thorough investigation of this grave tragedy."
According to Livne, new findings published by Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday show his country's "ongoing commitment to investigate what had happened in Gaza and take all appropriate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future."
Livne's previous remarks in the wake of the Israeli attack, implying that criticism of Israel's military actions could be attributed to antisemitism, have been met with sharp criticism from Polish officials.
In an online interview, Livne later described the attack as a tragic accident and expressed regret but stopped short of issuing an apology, according to Polish media outlets.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk have both voiced criticism of Israel's military actions and demanded an apology, with Duda advocating for compensation for the family of the Polish victim.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Wednesday called for "an apology and compensation" if Israel deliberately attacked the convoy, emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The Polish president said on Thursday that Livne was harming Polish-Israeli relations and that his statements were "unfortunate, in short, outrageous."
The Polish prime minister said on Wednesday that Israel was putting his country's solidarity to a "hard test" following the Gaza incident and the subsequent reactions of Israeli officials, which he said were causing "understandable anger."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the incident as a "tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip," according to a report by the PAP news agency.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.