Instead of flying over the Netherlands, Ireland and Iceland, the president’s plane flew over Croatia, Italy and France instead [GETTY]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly forced to take an extended flight path to the United States to avoid airspace over countries likely to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.
Netanyahu’s official aircraft, known as the Wing of Zion, added roughly 400 kilometres (248.5 miles) to its journey in order to avoid countries such as Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands, which Israel believes may comply with the warrant should an emergency landing be required.
Instead, the flight routed through Greece, Italy, and France, Haaretz reported.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
Since then, Netanyahu has consistently taken longer flight paths to avoid jurisdictions that are signatories to the Rome Statute and have pledged to uphold the court’s decisions.
A previous visit to the US in February, shortly after Netanyahu underwent surgery, also followed a carefully mapped route flying over US military bases to ensure proximity to allied medical facilities in the event of an emergency.
Netanyahu landed in Washington overnight for a series of meetings with US President Donald Trump and senior American officials, with discussions expected to focus on Israel’s war on Gaza, the fate of 59 Israeli captives still held in the Strip, and Trump’s new trade policy, which has imposed a 17% tariff on Israeli goods.
His arrival was met by protests outside his temporary residence in the US capital, with demonstrators condemning his visit and calling attention to the ongoing war in Gaza and the ICC arrest warrant.
Netanyahu’s office said the visit will also address regional security concerns, including Iran, Israel-Turkey relations, and what it described as “confronting the International Criminal Court”.
Hungary backs Netanyahu, exits ICC
As Netanyahu concluded an official four-day visit to Budapest—the first European stop he has made since the warrant was issued—Hungary announced it would withdraw from the ICC. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán previously vowed in November to defy the arrest warrants, saying they would “have no effect in Hungary.”
Hungary’s exit underscores the growing divide among nations over the ICC decision. While countries such as Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands have said they will uphold the warrant if Netanyahu enters their territory, others—including the United States—have denounced the ICC’s move.
As a signatory to the Rome Statute, any country legally bound by the ICC must arrest individuals named in its warrants should they enter its jurisdiction.
