Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a highly unusual flight path from Tel Aviv to the United States in September 2025, avoiding airspace of countries that might enforce an existing ICC arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.
Instead of the typical direct route that crosses multiple European countries, Netanyahu’s plane flew over the Mediterranean Sea and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, briefly passing only Greek and Italian airspace but entirely circumventing France and Spain.
The altered flight added extra distance and fuel costs but was believed to be a security and legal precaution, as France, Spain, and other European countries are ICC signatories and could have compelled Netanyahu’s arrest.
This indirect route was also accompanied by changes in onboard seating and personnel arrangements, attributed officially to "technical reasons" but widely linked to efforts to avoid legal issues tied to the ICC warrant issued last November.
Neither Israel nor the United States are ICC members, and Netanyahu’s planned speech at the UN General Assembly in New York required his safe arrival without risk of detention in countries enforcing the ICC's arrest order.
This cautious strategy highlights the complex intersection of international law, diplomacy, and geopolitics surrounding Netanyahu’s travel amid heightened scrutiny over war crimes allegations.