Washington D.C. – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent flight to the United States traversed the airspace of three nations that are signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), raising questions about potential legal obligations and diplomatic considerations.
According to flight data, the Israeli government aircraft carrying Netanyahu followed a westward route over the Mediterranean Sea, passing over Greece, Italy, and France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean en route to the US. This flight path deviates from previous routes taken by the Prime Minister, which often avoided airspace of countries that might be compelled to execute the ICC arrest warrant issued against him.
During a visit to New York in September, Netanyahu’s plane used Greek and Italian airspace but notably avoided French territory. This time, however, the aircraft, a Boeing 767-338ER registered as 4X-ISR, flew south of Cyprus, over international waters south of Greece, and entered Italian airspace above Sicily before heading north towards southern France.
DZWatch understands that Israeli media reports suggest the longer route was intentionally chosen to avoid countries like the United Kingdom and Portugal, fearing potential compliance with the international arrest warrant in case of an emergency landing. France and Italy, however, permitted the aircraft’s passage through their respective airspaces.
The flight path has drawn criticism from human rights advocates. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, has called on the governments of France, Italy, and Greece to explain why they provided what she termed a “safe passage” for an individual wanted by the ICC. Albanese emphasized that as parties to the Rome Statute, these nations are legally obligated to execute arrest warrants issued by the court.
The incident highlights the complex legal and political landscape surrounding international justice and the challenges of enforcing international law in a globalized world. DZWatch continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as they become available.
