Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew through the airspace of ICC member states Greece, Italy, France, and Canada en route to Washington.
- The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Critics accuse these nations of aiding an internationally wanted leader by allowing passage.
- Journalists and rights advocates stated that allowing passage breaches obligations to cooperate with the ICC.
- Protests were held in Washington against Netanyahu's visit and the US administration's reception of him.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent flight to Washington has drawn significant criticism, with opponents accusing several International Criminal Court (ICC) member states of facilitating his journey despite an existing arrest warrant.
Netanyahu traveled on the official Israeli government aircraft, the 'Wing of Zion,' passing through the airspace of Greece, Italy, France, and Canada. All these nations are signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024, citing reasonable grounds for his criminal responsibility for war crimes, including starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Critics, including journalists and rights advocates, have questioned why these ICC member states permitted the aircraft to pass without obstruction. Journalist Matt Kennard stated that Greece, Italy, and France had allowed an 'ICC fugitive' through their airspace, potentially breaching their obligation to cooperate with the court. This situation has been highlighted as an example of the gap between Western governments' formal commitments to international law and their practical enforcement, particularly concerning close US allies.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen and Canadian rights group Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East also expressed disapproval, with the latter questioning the role of Mark Carney in granting safe passage. While the legal obligations regarding aircraft passing through airspace are less explicit than landing, Article 3 of the Chicago Convention requires authorization for state aircraft to fly over another country's territory. The apparent permission for Netanyahu's flight has led to accusations that governments knowingly facilitated his journey, allowing them to avoid confronting the ICC warrant while maintaining their image as defenders of international law.
Netanyahu's arrival in Washington also coincided with protests against his visit and the Trump administration's decision to host him. Demonstrators chanted slogans and held placards condemning him as a 'war criminal.' The US, not an ICC member, does not recognize the court's jurisdiction over its nationals or those of non-signatory states. However, activists argue that by hosting Netanyahu, Washington provides him with diplomatic legitimacy and political protection amidst ongoing international scrutiny of Israel's actions in Gaza.
The flight path was reportedly similar to previous journeys in December 2025 and February 2026, though a September 2025 trip to New York took a longer route to avoid certain European jurisdictions. For critics, the uninterrupted journey underscores how an ICC warrant can be rendered symbolic when the accused has the protection of powerful allies like the United States and its European partners, raising questions about the equal application of international justice.