Netanyahu’s unusual flight route to US for UN: Could ICC arrest warrant be the reason?

Netanyahu takes unusual flight route over Europe amid threat of war crimes arrest

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an unusual detour on his flight to the United States this week, seemingly to avoid European countries where he could face arrest under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for alleged war crimes.

Netanyahu departed Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and hold talks with US President Donald Trump. While the normal route would cross European airspace, flight tracker websites showed his aircraft flying the length of the Mediterranean Sea, passing over the Strait of Gibraltar, before heading west across the Atlantic.

According to FlightRadar24, the jet briefly overflew Greece and Italy but avoided both French and Spanish skies, significantly lengthening the journey. CNN, citing a French diplomatic source, reported that Paris had approved Israeli requests to use its airspace, but Netanyahu’s plane still bypassed it.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has not explained the reason for the diversion. Two weeks earlier, it announced that some journalists and members of Netanyahu’s entourage would not travel with him due to “technical arrangements related to seating and security.” The Jerusalem Post later reported that the decision was linked to additional fuel requirements for the altered route.

ICC warrant and European pressure

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Neither Israel nor the United States are ICC members, but many European nations are obligated to act on the warrants if Netanyahu enters their airspace or lands on their soil.

In July, Netanyahu’s previous trip to the US flew over France, Italy, and Greece, making this detour a notable shift. Several European countries, including Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and Britain, have recently recognised a Palestinian state — a move Netanyahu strongly opposes. Spain has also pledged to support the ICC investigation, setting up a team to examine alleged human rights violations in Gaza.

Slovenia, meanwhile, banned Netanyahu from entering its territory on Thursday, citing the ICC proceedings. Earlier this year, the country also barred Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for what it called “genocidal statements” inciting violence against Palestinians.

Netanyahu’s US schedule

Netanyahu is set to address the UN General Assembly on Friday before heading to Washington for a meeting with President Trump. His trip comes amid growing diplomatic isolation in Europe, as more countries align themselves with the ICC investigation and move toward formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.