Poland has promised Netanyahu's safety at the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

The Polish government will ensure the free and safe participation of Israeli representatives, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. This was reported in the government information center of Poland on January 9.

"In connection with the celebrations planned for January 27, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the former German Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Auschwitz, the Polish government says it will ensure the free and safe participation of top Israeli representatives in these celebrations," the center said in a statement quoted by Polish portal Onet.

The Polish government said that it considers the security of Netanyahu and other representatives of the Israeli leadership as part of a tribute to the Jewish people, millions of whose representatives were victims of the Holocaust.

The publication quotes Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who calls the situation with Netanyahu's future visit to the republic delicate because of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the head of the Israeli government. On the one hand, one must obey the verdict of the international tribunal. On the other, Netanyahu must feel safe while visiting the concentration camp on the anniversary of its liberation, and this is what prompted Tusk to ask the Polish Ministry of Justice and Foreign Ministry to prepare a resolution rejecting the arrest of the Israeli prime minister.

Earlier, on December 22, 2024, Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that Netanyahu will not visit Poland on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz because of the arrest warrant. The publication quoted Deputy Foreign Minister of the European republic Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who pointed out the need to respect the ICC decisions. It was specified that Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog is also unlikely to attend the commemorative festivities, they may be attended from Israel by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant on November 21. The court ruled that the two politicians were responsible for war crimes against civilians. The UK, the Netherlands and Estonia expressed their readiness to implement the court's decision, while the US and France opposed it.

Later, on December 5, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Sheyna said that the republic was ready to execute the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

In 2005, the UN General Assembly signed a resolution on the creation of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust. Its date was set for January 27. On this day in 1945, the Red Army liberated the concentration camp Auschwitz (German name - Auschwitz), located on Polish territory. Over 1.1 million people were killed there during the camp's existence, including about 1 million Jews.