The head of the Polish President’s Office, Małgorzata Paprocka, has told Poland's PAP news agency that, although Netanyahu is under an international arrest warrant, he "should have the opportunity to participate in this unique event if he wishes to do so."
The Bloomberg news agency earlier reported that, in his letter, Duda referred to "absolutely exceptional circumstances" of the Auschwitz liberation event, adding that Polish authorities should guarantee that Netanyahu’s stay on Polish territory is "unhindered."
Bloomberg said that, in his letter, Duda expressed hope that the government will be able to "devise an adequate formula" to provide guarantees for Netanyahu that reconcile respect for international law with the significance of the Auschwitz liberation.
On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes during the conflict in Gaza.
According to unofficial sources quoted by public broadcaster Polish Radio, the Israeli prime minister is not planning to attend the January 27 ceremony at Auschwitz.
A spokesman for the Auschwitz Museum has told the media that the only personal invitations had been addressed to Holocaust survivors, who will be the most important guests at the event.
"It is the foreign embassies that decide on who is to represent a given country," he said, adding that the Auschwitz Museum has yet to be informed who will represent Israel.
A sizable group of foreign dignitaries and politicians from across the world are expected to visit Auschwitz on January 27, the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation by the Soviet Army.
More than 1.1 million people were killed by the Germans in Auschwitz, mostly European Jews, but also Poles, Roma, Soviet POWs and prisoners of other nationalities.
(mk/gs)