Strikes on humanitarian workers in Gaza: Warsaw demands explanations, London “dismayed”
Poland wants explanations from Israel after the strike on the World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy, in which a Pole lost his life. This death aroused a lot of emotion and according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, supporting Israel is becoming more and more complicated. For his part, the British Prime Minister said he was “
dismayed
” by the attack during which three British citizens were killed. Rishi Sunak calls for a transparent investigation in Tel Aviv. Until now, however, London had been very conciliatory towards Israel.
An Israeli strike killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip on Monday April 1. ©Reuters
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The death of Pole Damian Soból, among the victims of the
humanitarian
convoy in
Gaza
, caused a lot of reaction in Poland, reports
Martin Chabal,
our correspondent in Warsaw. For Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who spoke on X, it is difficult today for the Poles, who mobilized enormously after the attacks of October 7, to still be as united.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, calls for compensation to be paid by Israel to the families of the victims. He also criticized the Israeli ambassador to Poland, asking him to show humility after calling a far-right politician who called the strike a “war crime” an anti-Semite.
Panie premierze Netanjahu, panie ambasadorze Liwne, zdecydowana większość Polaków okazała pełną solidarność z Izraelem po ataku Hamasu. Dzisiaj poddajecie tę solidarityrność naprawdę ciężkiej próbie. Tragiczny atak na wolontariuszy i wasza reakcja budzą zrozumiałą złość.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 3, 2024
And if some observers are afraid of seeing a rise in anti-Semitism in Poland with these declarations, for the Minister of Foreign Affairs this is already the case since Israel “
abuses its force
”.
Poland therefore feels very concerned by this affair. She also demanded total cooperation between Polish and Israeli justice to clearly determine what happened. The city prosecutor of the Pole who died in this strike even opened an independent investigation.
Also read: In the news: outrage after the death of 7 humanitarian workers in Gaza
“London has become more critical”
Traditionally, the British government supports Israel and is content to follow American initiatives, reports our correspondent in London,
Émeline Vin
. Will the attack on April 1 be enough to change this position? Martin Shaw, professor of international relations at the University of Sussex, is not convinced. “
The British position has been evolving since David Cameron became Foreign Secretary [in November]. The government tends to express its concern about the impact of the Israeli operation on Palestinian civilians. London has become more critical, not sharply critical, but more critical. This incident will certainly reinforce this trend. However, I don't think this single incident will have an impact; it will only be if the international community, led by the Biden administration, decides to reassess its attitude.
»
As for public opinion, even if major pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held since October and a significant minority denounces the actions of the Israeli army, a certain information fatigue is setting in, on the question of hostages for example. .
“
Politicians continue to talk about it,”
continues Martin Shaw,
“but it is no longer a subject of concern for the general public. Most people, even those who follow political news, no longer have this question in mind. Attention turned to the enormous number of victims in Palestine and the humanitarian conditions.
»
At the site where World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. AP - Abdel Kareem Hana
Read alsoGaza: the international community criticizes Israel after the strike which killed seven humanitarian workers
♦ Humanitarian operations impacted
World Central Kitchen announced immediately after the death of its collaborators: the organization is suspending its operations in the Gaza Strip. A decision with immediate effects for many civilians: World Central Kitchen distributed crucial food aid. She was also in charge of delivering humanitarian aid by sea from Cyprus.
The United Arab Emirates, which was the main donor of this aid transported by sea, also announced that it was interrupting this aspect of its operations. The country demands that Israel guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers. These two decisions should lead to a de facto interruption of this newly established maritime corridor: only one boat left Cyprus three weeks ago.
Monday's Israeli strikes also caused other humanitarian organizations active in the Gaza Strip to rethink their operations. Some have decided to interrupt them completely, others to no longer go to the North, the most dangerous part today but also the one where the humanitarian situation is the most delicate. Decisions which add to the restrictions already imposed by Israel: UNRWA
,
the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which is the main humanitarian actor in the Palestinian enclave, announced ten days ago that it no longer obtained Israeli authorization to deliver humanitarian aid to the north of the besieged enclave.
Read alsoGaza Strip: UN dismay at the horror inside the al-Chifa hospital
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