"He is a chauvinist and an attention-seeker, and as such he is a threat to public order in Poland", Sikorski told reporters Friday on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden. "This is not a theoretical matter — he tried to enter Poland this year. We prevented it, and now he has a formal ban".
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed the five-year ban on Thursday, saying the necessary documents had been signed and entries in Polish systems were already in force. "There is no consent for the humiliation of Polish citizens", he wrote on X.
The move followed a video published Wednesday by Ben Gvir showing dozens of detained activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla kneeling on the ground while he waved an Israeli flag and shouted in Hebrew: "Welcome to Israel — we are in charge here". The footage drew condemnation from Poland, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and others.
Sikorski said Poland had summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires at his request. Asked whether Polish activists had been tortured or subjected to sexual violence during their detention, he said medical examinations were underway.
The flotilla set sail last week from the Turkish port of Marmaris carrying humanitarian aid toward the Gaza coast. Israeli forces intercepted 50 of its vessels, detaining 428 people of various nationalities, including Polish citizens.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that all detained activists would be deported. Polish flotilla spokesman Rafał Piotrowski confirmed Friday that the entire Polish delegation had left Israel safely and was in good health.
(jh)
Source: PAP