France defends Netanyahu overflight amid ICC warrant

France defended its decision to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plane to cross its airspace on Thursday while en route to the United Nations, stating that international law does not mandate action against individuals subject to International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants during overflights.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told reporters that the clearance was "in full conformity with international law." He added that the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty, "does not impose any obligations regarding overflights of its territory by a state plane which has a passenger who is targeted by an arrest warrant." France is a signatory to the Rome Statute and is bound to cooperate with the court, including arresting suspects who enter its territory.

Netanyahu is unable to travel to many countries due to an ICC arrest warrant issued against him, his then-defense minister, and the then-military commander of Hamas in 2024 over alleged war crimes. Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza, where it waged a military campaign it says was aimed at eliminating Hamas following the deadly attack on Israel by the militant Palestinian group on October 7, 2023. Israel is contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and his former defense chief Yoav Gallant.

Flight-tracking data showed Netanyahu's plane flew over Greece, Italy, and France. A spokesperson for Italy's Foreign Ministry stated they could not immediately confirm if Israeli authorities had sought permission for an overflight. Last year, Netanyahu reportedly took a circuitous route to New York to avoid the airspace of several European countries, including France.

Separately, US President Donald Trump this week urged ICC members to withdraw from what he described as an "out of control institution." France has stated it condemns threats against the court. Netanyahu was making a brief visit to the US for his address to world leaders at the UN General Assembly, arriving in New York around 9 a.m. ET (1300 GMT) and expected to fly back later the same day.