Polish FM: Unnecessary bloodshed in Gaza Strip should end

The United States officially transferred its embassy to Jerusalem on Monday, sparking a wave of protests during which 58 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip at the Israeli border.

The Palestinian authorities have accused Israel of carrying out a massacre, while Israel has maintained that its army's activities were a defensive measure against the radical Hamas movement.

On Tuesday, the Polish Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concerns" over the hostilities and appealed to Israel "to respect right to peaceful protest by Palestinian people." The ministry noted that "Israel has the right to defend itself and to secure its border. However, the principle of proportional use of force should be followed."

Commenting on the Monday clashes during a meeting with the media and experts organised by the In.Europa think tank, Minister Czaputowicz said that he saw a "complication of the issue" with regard to the status of Jerusalem. "We are aware of the United States' position, but we are together with the EU," he added.

Czaputowicz also said that Poland, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, was obliged to foster a discussion on the Gaza Strip developments, adding that his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, had asked him to become involved in the issue.

The Polish minister also commented on the differences in the stances on the Iranian nuclear deal as expressed by Washington and Brussels. Czaputowicz stressed that Poland supports the efforts to uphold the agreement with Tehran made by the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Czaputowicz also noted that Poland is one of EU member states that stresses the significance of transatlantic relations. "We are under a bigger threat (...) and we are aware that the United States is the only player that can ensure security for us - due to its size, the quality of its armed forces and its potential to deter Russia," the minister explained. (PAP)

jd/jch/