Media: Netanyahu to skip Auschwitz liberation anniversary over ICC arrest warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz due to fears of arrest under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Instead, Israel will be represented by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Caliber.Az reports referring to  Rzeczpospolita.

The commemorative events on January 27, 2025, will mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous Nazi concentration camp where over 1.1 million people, primarily Jews, were killed during World War II. Notable world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain's King Felipe VI, have already confirmed their participation. However, Rzeczpospolita noted that the absence of Netanyahu contrasts sharply with the high-ranking delegations of other nations.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Vladislav Bartoszewski, responsible for coordinating the ceremony, stated, "We are obliged to respect the judgements of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague."

Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant face arrest warrants issued by the ICC on November 21, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The alleged offences occurred in Palestinian territories, including Gaza, between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024.

Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated on January 27, 1945, by Soviet forces. The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum estimates that between 1.1 and 1.5 million people were killed at the camp, including 1 million Jews, 70,000–75,000 Poles, 20,000 Roma, and 14,000 Soviet prisoners of war. In 1947, a memorial complex was established on the site to preserve the memory of the victims.

Adding to the geopolitical sensitivities, Poland has not invited representatives of the Russian Federation to the ceremony, underscoring ongoing tensions.

By Tamilla Hasanova