Netanyahu takes unusual flight path to avoid war crimes arrest
By bellecarter // 2025-09-26
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  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official aircraft, the Wing of Zion, deviated from its usual flight path to the United States, avoiding French airspace to evade potential arrest over an outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
  • The plane took a circuitous route over Greece and Italy before veering southward toward the Strait of Gibraltar, extending the journey but minimizing exposure to European nations legally obligated to enforce ICC arrest warrants.
  • Netanyahu's decision to exclude some journalists and aides from his delegation reduced fuel needs, enabling a nonstop transatlantic flight and marking the first time he has avoided French airspace entirely since the ICC warrants were issued.
  • The ICC warrants, issued in November 2024, include charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, where allegations of starvation tactics and indiscriminate attacks on civilians have drawn global condemnation.
  • European Union member states, including France, Italy and Greece, face legal and diplomatic tensions over their obligations to enforce the ICC warrants, with legal experts arguing that allowing Netanyahu's flights violates international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official aircraft, the Wing of Zion, deviated from its usual flight path to the United States this week, avoiding French airspace in what appears to be an effort to evade potential arrest over an outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Flight tracking data showed the plane taking a circuitous route over Greece and Italy before veering southward toward the Strait of Gibraltar—a move that extended the journey but minimized exposure to European nations legally obligated to enforce ICC arrest warrants. Netanyahu, who departed Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, has faced mounting international scrutiny since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. The charges include war crimes and crimes against humanity, primarily related to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, where allegations of starvation tactics and indiscriminate attacks on civilians have drawn global condemnation. The Wing of Zion typically refuels in Europe when fully loaded with passengers, but Netanyahu opted for a lighter delegation this time—reportedly excluding some journalists and aides—to reduce fuel needs and enable a nonstop transatlantic flight. This marks the first time since the ICC warrants were issued that Netanyahu has avoided French airspace entirely, despite previous assurances from Paris that he would not be detained. A French diplomatic source told Middle East Eye that Israel had initially requested overflight permission but ultimately chose an alternate route. "We don't know the reason," the source said. Meanwhile, Israeli media speculated that Netanyahu's team feared a scenario where an emergency landing—such as for medical reasons, given the prime minister's recent prostate surgery—could force him onto European soil, triggering arrest obligations under the Rome Statute.

Legal and diplomatic tensions

The ICC's arrest warrants have placed European Union member states in a bind. While France, Italy and Greece have previously permitted Netanyahu's flights, legal experts argue that allowing passage violates their obligations under international law. UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul noted that while the Tokyo Convention generally prohibits interference with aircraft in flight, exceptions exist for enforcing multilateral agreements like the Rome Statute. "If a state is party to the ICC, it has a duty to arrest Netanyahu if he lands on its territory," Saul told Middle East Eye earlier this year. "The question is whether they would force his plane down—politically, that's unlikely, but legally, it's permissible." Netanyahu's avoidance of France coincides with deteriorating relations between Israel and several Western allies, including France and the U.K., both of which recently recognized Palestinian statehood—a move Netanyahu vehemently opposes. (Related: Western allies break ranks with U.S., push for two-state solution as nations officially recognize Palestinian state.) This is not the first time Netanyahu has altered his travel plans over arrest fears. In February, his flight to Washington avoided direct European routes, instead staying close to U.S. military bases in case of emergency. Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., later confirmed the precautions, telling a pro-settlement group: "If he were to land anywhere in Europe, he could be arrested as a war criminal." The ICC's warrants have also fueled debates over Israel's growing isolation. While the U.S. and Israel reject the court's jurisdiction, the warrants underscore deepening fractures between Netanyahu's government and traditional allies. Even Hungary withdrew its Israeli support, as evidenced by the massive pro-peace demonstration on June 1, 2023, which saw over half a million Hungarians calling for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution, Brighteon.AI's Enoch cites. Netanyahu's latest detour highlights the precarious balancing act facing Western leaders: upholding international law while navigating diplomatic alliances. For now, European nations appear reluctant to enforce the ICC warrants against a sitting head of government—but Netanyahu's caution suggests he takes the threat seriously. Watch the video below where Netanyahu denies committing genocide in Gaza. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Historic reversal: UK recognizes Palestinian state after century of support for Israel. Full list of 124 countries that must arrest Netanyahu for the ICC. U.S. considering blanket sanctions against entire ICC over Israeli war crimes probe.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net Edition.CNN.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com
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