Netanyahu avoids French airspace for first time since ICC arrest warrant

The plane carrying Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UN General Assembly in New York has avoided French airspace, flying only over Greece and Italy, flight trackers show.

Netanyahu was issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Gaza since October 2023. 

All EU countries, including Italy, France and Greece, are members of the ICC and are legally obliged to enforce the warrants, though Hungary, an Israeli ally, has officially begun the process of withdrawal from the ICC.

However, Italy, France and Greece have permitted Netanyahu to use their airspace several times since the warrants were issued. 

This is the first time he has avoided French airspace since the warrants, amid growing international opposition to the genocide in Gaza and as France, the UK and other western allies have announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood. 

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