World

Anger rises as ICC member states accused of facilitating Netanyahu’s flight to Washington

1 hour ago
by Live Sports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew through the airspace of several member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week on his way to Washington, prompting critics to accuse those governments of aiding an internationally wanted leader.

Netanyahu left Israel aboard the official government aircraft known as the “Wing of Zion” on Monday, ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft passing through the airspace of Greece, Italy and France before crossing the Atlantic, while a widely shared map of the journey indicated that it also entered Canadian airspace on its approach to the US. 

Greece, Italy, France and Canada are all parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

The Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on 21 November 2024, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe that he bore criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts in Gaza.

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Netanyahu and Israel have rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction. Israel and the US are not signatories to the Rome Statute.

Cooperation with impunity

The journey drew criticism from journalists and rights advocates who questioned why ICC member states had apparently allowed Netanyahu’s official aircraft to pass through their airspace without obstruction.

Journalist Matt Kennard said Greece, Italy and France had opened their airspace to an ICC fugitive “in breach of their obligation to cooperate with the ICC”.

Others described the flight as another illustration of the disparity between the formal commitments of western governments to international law and their willingness to enforce it against a close US ally.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen also shared a video on X saying that Netanyahu should be “nowhere close to the Oval Office”. 

Canadian rights group Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East asked, “Why does Mark Carney continue to give safe passage to this war criminal?”

Under Article 86 of the Rome Statute, member states are required to “cooperate fully” with the ICC in its investigation and prosecution of crimes within the court’s jurisdiction. 

The legal obligations surrounding an aircraft merely passing through a state’s airspace are less explicit than those applying when a wanted individual lands within its territory.

However, the “Wing of Zion” is an official Israeli government aircraft, and state aircraft do not generally enjoy an automatic right to fly through the territory of another country.

Article 3 of the Chicago Convention on international civil aviation states that a state aircraft may not fly over another state’s territory without authorisation through a special agreement “or otherwise”. 

The apparent granting of permission has therefore fuelled allegations that the governments involved knowingly facilitated Netanyahu’s journey, even if they were not required to intercept the plane or order it to land.

Critics said the decision allowed ICC members to avoid confronting the arrest warrant while continuing to present themselves as defenders of an international rules-based order.

The route was similar to those reportedly taken during Netanyahu’s previous journeys to the US in December 2025 and February 2026, when his aircraft also crossed Greek, Italian and French airspace. 

During a September 2025 trip to New York, the aircraft reportedly took a longer route that avoided some European jurisdictions amid concerns relating to the ICC warrant.

White House welcome

Netanyahu’s arrival also sparked protests in Washington, where demonstrators gathered to oppose his visit and condemn the Trump administration for receiving him at the White House.

Videos posted online showed protesters chanting “war criminal” and “shame” as Netanyahu arrived in the US capital.

Other demonstrators wrote on placards that an individual facing an international arrest warrant should not be welcomed and protected by the US government.

The US is not an ICC member and does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction over its nationals or those of states that are not parties to the Rome Statute.

Nevertheless, activists accused Washington of providing Netanyahu with diplomatic legitimacy and political protection while Israel’s assault on Gaza and restrictions on aid continue to face international scrutiny.

Netanyahu’s primary reason for the visit was to attend Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington.

Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for a first face-to-face meeting since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran earlier this year. 

Their talks were expected to address Iran, Israel’s continuing regional military operations and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords. 

For critics, however, the significance of the visit extended beyond the substance of the meeting.

They argued that the uninterrupted journey from Israel to Washington demonstrated how an ICC arrest warrant can be rendered largely symbolic when the person named in it retains the protection of the United States and its European allies.

The passage has also revived questions about whether the international justice system is applied equally, or whether its reach ultimately depends on the political power and alliances of those accused.

𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗢𝗦/𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘..

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