Tusk told reporters that his government was committed to ensuring a secure and respectful environment for all attendees at the January 27 ceremony, particularly Israeli officials.

He said: “Whether it will be the prime minister, or the president, or the education minister—as it is currently declared—the State of Israel, whoever comes to Auschwitz, will be assured of security and will not be detained.”

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

The charges include the use of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as murder and persecution as crimes against humanity.

As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Poland faces legal obligations to comply with the ICC’s arrest warrants. This has placed the country in a delicate position ahead of the Auschwitz liberation commemoration, an event of immense historical and political significance.

January 27 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi death camp where over 1.1 million people, predominantly Jews, were murdered during World War II. The solemn event draws global attention, serving as a stark reminder of the Holocaust’s atrocities.

“I can’t imagine that the political leaders of the State of Israel cannot safely participate in the commemoration of Auschwitz’s liberation,” the Polish prime minister said in a statement. “This is not acceptable at all.”

Tusk’s remarks signal a shift from Poland’s earlier stance on the ICC’s arrest warrants. In December, Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported that Netanyahu would likely avoid attending the Auschwitz ceremony for fear of arrest.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski had said that Poland is bound by the ICC’s legal framework, further complicating the issue.

However, this week, Polish President Andrzej Duda urged Tusk to ensure that Netanyahu could attend the Auschwitz event “unhindered.” In response, the Polish government adopted a resolution ensuring safe passage for all attendees but refrained from addressing the ICC warrants directly.

Tusk described Duda’s letter as a “political demonstration” and noted that, according to the Israeli embassy, the country will likely be represented by its education minister instead of Netanyahu.