Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an unexpected flight path to New York on Thursday, avoiding several European countries on his way to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Although France had officially approved the use of its airspace, flight-tracking data revealed that Netanyahu’s aircraft opted for a longer southern route.
The plane traveled over Greece and Italy, then diverted south through the Strait of Gibraltar before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to reach the United States.
This unusual detour comes in the wake of rising diplomatic tensions. In the past week, Britain, France, and Portugal officially recognized the State of Palestine, following similar moves by Ireland and Spain earlier in May, a shift that Netanyahu has strongly condemned.
According to Israeli media, the flight path was not just political; it was legal. Sources suggest the detour was a strategic move to avoid flying over nations that are signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty underpinning the International Criminal Court (ICC).
If Netanyahu’s plane were forced to make an emergency landing in one of those countries, there would be a legal basis to enforce the ICC arrest warrant issued against him.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants in November for both Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The court’s move has sparked global reactions, with Spain recently announcing its full support for the ICC’s investigation, even establishing a team to look into human rights abuses in the region.
Netanyahu is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Friday and is scheduled for a meeting with U.S President Donald Trump at the White House next week.
