Poland Guarantees Safe Participation for Israeli Officials in Auschwitz Commemoration

Poland has assured that Israel's highest representatives will be able to attend the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation ceremony later this month without fear of arrest, following concerns raised over a potential International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, intervened after reports surfaced that Netanyahu, who has been implicated in an ICC warrant over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict, might face arrest if he attended the event. According to Polish media, this led to fears that Netanyahu would skip the commemoration due to Poland’s commitment to respecting the ICC’s directives.

A spokesperson for Duda confirmed that the president had written to Prime Minister Donald Tusk requesting assurances that Netanyahu could participate in the commemoration without risk. Duda stressed that “Every person from Israel, every official from that country, should be able to take part in this unique event,” referring to the importance of the ceremony, which will mark the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27.

While Poland’s deputy prime minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, indicated that Netanyahu would not be attending, Israeli officials have not yet confirmed their participation. An aide to Netanyahu mentioned that they would consider attending if invited, but only after resolving the legal issue related to the ICC warrant.

The Polish government's commitment to ensuring Netanyahu’s safety is in line with the country's adherence to international law, but Poland’s stance has raised tensions regarding the ICC’s influence in the region. The central commemoration, set for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, is expected to draw numerous world leaders, including Britain’s King Charles.

With neither the Israeli head of government nor the state likely to attend, Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch is expected to represent Israel at the ceremony. This development underscores ongoing diplomatic challenges surrounding the ICC’s jurisdiction and Israel’s response to the warrants.

As of now, Netanyahu has not visited Europe since the ICC issued arrest warrants in November related to the ongoing Gaza conflict. Meanwhile, Israel continues to reject the allegations and has appealed against the ICC's actions.