Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington this week for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, with his aircraft crossing the airspace of several countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite an active arrest warrant issued against him.
Flight tracking data showed Netanyahu’s plane passing through the airspace of Greece, Italy, and France, all signatories to the ICC, before continuing toward the United States. The journey has drawn international attention, raising questions about how ICC member states balance their legal obligations with diplomatic realities.
The ICC recently issued arrest warrants linked to alleged war crimes connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. As ICC members, countries such as Greece, Italy, and France are technically required to cooperate with the court, including enforcing arrest warrants. However, legal experts note that simply allowing an aircraft to pass through national airspace does not automatically trigger arrest obligations, which typically apply when a suspect enters a country’s territory.
Netanyahu’s office did not comment on the route of the flight, focusing instead on the purpose of the visit. The Israeli leader is expected to hold high-level talks with President Trump on regional security, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Iran’s influence in the Middle East, and broader U.S.–Israel relations.
The trip underscores the strong political backing Netanyahu continues to receive from Washington, which does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. The United States has criticized the court’s actions against Israeli leaders, calling them politically motivated.
Human rights groups, however, argue that the episode exposes a double standard in international justice, where powerful leaders can continue to travel freely despite facing serious legal accusations.
As Netanyahu meets with Trump, the controversy surrounding his travel route highlights the growing strain between international legal institutions and global power politics, a tension likely to shape diplomatic debates well beyond this visit.
