Family of Pole Killed in Gaza Should Get Compensation from Israel, Poland Says 

Polish World Central Kitchen and aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to the NGO, on April 1, 2024, speaks about water facilities at the roof of WCK, in location given as Gaza, in this still image taken from a social media video released March 2, 2024 and obtained by Reuters on April 2, 2024. (World Central Kitchen/Handout via Reuters)
Polish World Central Kitchen and aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to the NGO, on April 1, 2024, speaks about water facilities at the roof of WCK, in location given as Gaza, in this still image taken from a social media video released March 2, 2024 and obtained by Reuters on April 2, 2024. (World Central Kitchen/Handout via Reuters)
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Family of Pole Killed in Gaza Should Get Compensation from Israel, Poland Says 

Polish World Central Kitchen and aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to the NGO, on April 1, 2024, speaks about water facilities at the roof of WCK, in location given as Gaza, in this still image taken from a social media video released March 2, 2024 and obtained by Reuters on April 2, 2024. (World Central Kitchen/Handout via Reuters)
Polish World Central Kitchen and aid worker Damian Sobol, who was killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to the NGO, on April 1, 2024, speaks about water facilities at the roof of WCK, in location given as Gaza, in this still image taken from a social media video released March 2, 2024 and obtained by Reuters on April 2, 2024. (World Central Kitchen/Handout via Reuters)

Israel should apologize and pay compensation to the family of a Polish national who was among seven aid workers killed in an airstrike in Gaza, Poland's prime minister and president said on Thursday.

Citizens from Australia, Britain and Poland were among seven people working for celebrity chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza on Monday, the NGO said.

Damian Sobol, 35, was a relief worker and lived in the city of Przemysl, in southeastern Poland, according to the city's mayor Wojciech Bakun.

"We will expect... an immediate explanation of the circumstances and compensation for the victims' relatives," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference.

President Andrzej Duda joined his call for an apology, compensation and investigation from Israel, while also criticizing Israel's ambassador to Poland for his comments after the incident.

Ambassador Yacov Livne said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday that the "extreme right and left" in Poland were accusing Israel of intentional murder, adding that "antisemites will always remain antisemites".

"The authorities in Israel speak in a very subdued and sensitive manner. Unfortunately, their ambassador in Poland is unable to maintain such delicacy and this is unacceptable," Duda said during a televised speech on NATO's anniversary.

"Today Mr. Ambassador is making these relations very difficult. This is my assessment."

The Polish foreign ministry has summoned the ambassador for Friday.

Israel did not have an ambassador in Poland for months under the previous government due to a row over Holocaust education trips for Israeli students to Poland. He was reinstated last year.



Greece Says 8 Dead, 18 Rescued as Speedboat with Migrants Capsizes near Island

Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
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Greece Says 8 Dead, 18 Rescued as Speedboat with Migrants Capsizes near Island

Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)
Migrant route from Türkiye to Greece has seen increased usage this year (AFP/file photo)

A speedboat carrying migrants capsized Friday morning off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, leaving eight dead and 18 rescued, Greek authorities said.
The coast guard said the incident occurred while the speedboat was carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” to try and evade a patrol vessel, causing migrants to fall into the sea.
A rescue effort is underway involving coast guard vessels and a helicopter as it was unclear whether other passengers were missing, authorities said.
Rhodes, one of several large Greek islands located near the coast of Türkiye, is on a busy illegal smuggling route in the eastern Mediterranean. It was the second deadly incident involving migrants in the past week, as authorities in Athens brace for a spike in arrivals as a result of wars in the Middle East.
Seven migrants were killed and dozens are believed to be missing after a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete over the weekend – one of four rescue operations during which more than 200 migrants were rescued.
The search south of Crete around the tiny island of Gavdos was called off Wednesday.
The number of migrants traveling illegally to Greece is expected to top 60,000 this year, with Syrians making up the largest number, followed by Afghans, Egyptians, Eritreans and Palestinians, according to government data.