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Netanyahu avoids French airspace on his way to the United States
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an unusual flight route to New York on Thursday, bypassing French and several Central European airspaces, despite France having authorized Israel to use its skies. His official plane, known as the “Wing of Zion,” instead flew over Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and then sharply south toward the Strait of Gibraltar before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
French diplomatic sources confirmed that Paris had approved Israel’s request to access French airspace, but public flight data indicated the aircraft deliberately chose a different path.
Israeli media speculated that the detour aimed to avoid flying over countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). These states could theoretically enforce an ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu in the event of an emergency landing. In November 2024, the ICC issued warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The move comes as international pressure on Israel increases. Spain recently announced its support for the ICC investigation and created a team to examine possible human rights violations in Gaza. Netanyahu is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday and later meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.