IDF Delegation Prohibited From Entering Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp With Israeli Flag

Auschwitz or Auschwitz II-Birkenau Camp. (Wikimedia Commons/pzk.net)

The delegation, consisting of 180 IDF personnel and security officials, part of the long-running "Witnesses in the Union" program dedicated to the Holocaust warning, was halted during a flag march at the entrance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp in Poland on Thursday morning, ordered to lower their Israeli flag by a local police officer.

Although Israeli officers and local staff are trying to fight back and reach an agreement, the flags remain lowered.

"We are ready for the ceremony, lined up in formation with flags, accompanied by trumpets, as usual," said a participant in the group with the initials B, quoted from Ynet News on August 1.

"At the famous gate, Polish officers stopped the front line and asked us not to enter with flags. Neither local Polish staff nor our senior officers argued, but were unsuccessful," he told Ynet.

The group stood still in formation during the discussion and after a few minutes, the deputy major delegation was instructed to order the flag bearers to lower the flag.

"We put them in the vehicle used to hold the ceremony," he said.

"When we passed through the gate, we didn't say anything to the officers, but the atmosphere was tense," added B.

B. expressed surprise at the decision. "There has never been a uniformed ceremony stopped in the middle of the road - not in the forest, not in Treblinka, Warsaw, or Majdanek. We are always led by flag bearers."

He described the public humiliation, with spectators recording military processions that usually invite admiration.

"Every year, delegates come in with flags. There are iconic photos of officers in uniform with flags on Birkenau. We believe this comes from a mixture of antisemitism and attempts to reshape historical narratives," he criticized.

The incident greatly influenced the group.

"It's really sad," B said, adding "We were forced to leave the tradition that has been around for a long time. This ceremony is very touching, and the loss of most of it is very painful for all of us. This event shows that we are still fighting antisemitism in Europe, and some are trying to change the narrative of Zionists andologies of this place for our sake."