Poland's top diplomat, asked by Renata Grochal from Programme III of Polish Radio about the position of the independent UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel — which ruled that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip — explained that the definition of genocide refers to the deliberate and intentional extermination of an ethnic group, stressing that “words must be weighed carefully.”
“If we overuse such words, next time we may no longer have them at our disposal,” Sikorski said.
He added: “If Israel truly intended to commit genocide, it would take a week or two. What we are seeing is a conflict triggered by Hamas through an unprecedented act of terror against Israel.”
“This is a war between Israel and Hamas, in which, tragically, a catastrophic number of civilians are being killed,” the minister noted.
“I personally believe that what is happening there is a terrible tragedy, but it does not, in my view, meet the definition of genocide,” Sikorski noted.
FM Sikorski pledges support for Sejm Speaker Hołownia’s UN bid
FM Sikorski also commented on Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia’s bid for the post of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, after the leader of the Poland 2050 party announced he would not run in January’s leadership election and confirmed his intention to seek the new role.
“Poland, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will support Szymon Hołownia in his candidacy for the new position,” Sikorski said, stressing that the entire Polish political scene should back Polish candidates.
FM Sikorski questions MP Sterczewski’s presence on Gaza aid flotilla
FM Sikorski also addressed the case of MP Franciszek Sterczewski, who was aboard a humanitarian flotilla attacked while attempting to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.
Sterczewski wrote on social media that, as a politician, he has a duty to be where human rights are being violated. Sikorski responded that such an obligation does not exist under Polish law, noting that he himself has participated in various missions, but always “at his own risk.”
Earlier, regarding Sterczewski’s presence on the flotilla, FM Sikorski ran a poll on X asking whether the state should cover evacuation costs for such individuals or recover them. Sterczewski replied that MPs have a moral duty to respond to human rights violations and called on the Polish government to support Palestinians rather than “send them the bill.”
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Source: IAR/PAP/PR3