Warsaw, Apr 15, (V7N) - Polish Member of Parliament Konrad Berkowicz sparked intense controversy and widespread condemnation after displaying an Israeli flag modified with a Nazi swastika during a session of the Polish parliament on Tuesday. The provocative act occurred as Berkowicz delivered a speech accusing Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza, leading to an immediate uproar among fellow lawmakers and international observers.

During his address, Berkowicz claimed that Israel is responsible for a child death rate in Gaza that is significantly higher than that seen during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. To emphasize his point, he presented the modified flag where the Star of David, a central symbol of Judaism and Jewish national identity, was replaced by the swastika associated with Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich.

The MP explicitly labeled Israel as the "new Third Reich," a statement that drew a sharp and angry reaction from those present in the chamber. The Star of David is globally recognized as a symbol of the rebirth of the Jewish people and national unity, making its replacement with a Nazi symbol particularly offensive given the historical context of the Holocaust in Poland.

Parliamentary Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a clear violation of the dignity of the parliament. He announced that he would implement financial sanctions against Berkowicz and pursue further disciplinary measures for violating the parliament's code of conduct.

Legal experts noted that Berkowicz's actions could have criminal consequences, as Polish law strictly prohibits the public display of Nazi symbols and the insulting of foreign national flags. The Israeli embassy described the incident as shameful and called upon Polish authorities to take appropriate legal action against the lawmaker.

The video of the protest was later circulated on social media by Berkowicz's political party, which has a documented history of engaging in similar controversial activities. The incident continues to fuel a broader debate regarding the limits of parliamentary immunity and the rise of extremist rhetoric within the political landscape.

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