Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering not attending next month’s 80th-anniversary commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz, citing concerns over the possibility of arrest.
According to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Israeli authorities have not reached out to their Polish counterparts regarding Netanyahu’s participation in the event. Sources in Warsaw believe Netanyahu’s decision is linked to Poland’s adherence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office and Poland’s foreign ministry have been contacted for comment.
Why It matters
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and several Hamas officials in November. These warrants designate Netanyahu as an internationally wanted suspect, further isolating him diplomatically.
Although Israel and the U.S., a key Israeli ally, are not parties to the Rome Statute, Poland, a member state, is obligated to honor the ICC’s rulings.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog will also not be attending the event, but Education Minister Yoav Kisch is expected to represent the country, according to Rzeczpospolita.
The 80th-anniversary event will be held on January 27, 2024, at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heads of state and Holocaust survivors are expected to attend, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish King Felipe VI, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Polish commitment to ICC
Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Władysław Bartoszewski, who is organising the commemoration, stated to Rzeczpospolita: “Poland is committed to respecting” the ICC’s ruling.
In response, Netanyahu has reaffirmed Israel’s stance, declaring that it will appeal the ICC’s decision. He criticized the warrant as a “dark day in the history of humanity” and an “antisemitic step,” accusing the court of attempting to deter Israel from exercising its right to defend itself against those who seek to destroy it.
Israel’s legal response
Israel filed two appeals against the ICC’s ruling last Friday, arguing that there were procedural issues with the warrant and that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over Israelis.
In a related development, Israel’s military issued an evacuation order in central Gaza on Wednesday, ahead of a planned offensive. As Israel and Hamas edge closer to a ceasefire in their 14-month conflict, the outcome of Israel’s military operations could significantly influence the course of the conflict.
