Poland’s government issued a resolution Thursday guaranteeing the safety and freedom of movement for top Israeli officials attending the 80th anniversary commemoration of Auschwitz-Birkenau’s liberation later this month. This includes ensuring the safety of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu is subject to an arrest warrant issued last year by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict.
The Polish government’s resolution, released by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s office, stated that ensuring the safe participation of Israeli representatives in the January 27th, 2025 commemorations is a tribute to the Jewish people, millions of whom perished in the Holocaust.
This follows a request from Polish President Andrzej Duda to Tusk to guarantee Netanyahu’s safe passage and participation.
German occupation of Poland during World War II led to the establishment of ghettos and death camps where millions of Jews and others were murdered.
Concerns had been raised that the ICC warrant might prevent Netanyahu’s travel to Poland for the January 27th anniversary observances marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet forces in 1945.
While Poland, as an ICC member state, is obligated to detain individuals subject to arrest warrants, the court lacks enforcement mechanisms. Israel is not an ICC member and contests the court’s jurisdiction.
Despite the ICC’s over 120 member states, several, including France, have declared they would not arrest Netanyahu. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has even indicated he would defy the warrant by inviting Netanyahu to Hungary.
Netanyahu’s attendance remains uncertain. The Polish Foreign Ministry stated earlier on Thursday that it had received no confirmation of his attendance at the 80th anniversary commemoration.
“Poland is a safe country and any leader visiting Poland is entitled to protection granted by the Ministry of the Interior,” the ministry added, dismissing reports of a potential arrest as “fake news” originating in US media.
The commemoration, to be held in Oswiecim (the town occupied by Germany during the war), will include international officials and Holocaust survivors.
Over 1.1 million people were murdered at Auschwitz, with the majority (approximately one million) being Jewish, alongside Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others.