WARSAW, Poland (VINnews) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply rebuked Poland’s top diplomat amid a growing controversy over antisemitic rhetoric, after a Polish politician posted an image depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with imagery associated with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

The image, shared on social media by Tomasz Grabarczyk of the far-right New Hope party, showed Netanyahu altered with a Hitler-style moustache alongside inflammatory accusations against Israel. The post coincided with Israel’s Independence Day and drew widespread condemnation.

Dzisiaj pewne państwo zaczyna świętować niepodległość, którą zbudowało na tragedii milionów niewinnych ludzi. Od 70 lat mordują, gnębią, prześladują i wypędzają. A na koniec to oni robią z siebie ofiary!

Jest takie państwo, któremu wolno więcej niż innym, bo trzyma na smyczy… pic.twitter.com/R7C55cKl53

— Tomasz Grabarczyk (@grabarczyktomek) April 21, 2026

The incident followed another flashpoint in Poland’s parliament, where lawmaker Konrad Berkowicz displayed an Israeli flag marked with a swastika, prompting outrage from Israeli and U.S. officials.

Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, had also criticized Israeli military actions in Lebanon, referencing footage of an incident involving an Israeli soldier. Sa’ar responded by accusing Sikorski of ignoring antisemitic acts in his own country rather than condemning them.

Israeli officials and diplomats, including the embassy in Warsaw, warned that comparisons between Israel’s leadership and Nazi Germany cross into antisemitism and risk fueling further hostility.

The controversy reflects a broader rise in anti-Israel rhetoric in parts of Europe, with officials expressing concern over escalating tensions both online and in political arenas.