When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for New York to attend the session of the United Nations General Assembly this week, his visit caught everyone’s attention. In general, the flight from Tel Aviv to JFK Airport is 10.5 hours, but this time his journey was about 13 hours long.
The aircraft flew over Greece and Italy via the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Then suddenly turned to the south-west and crossed the Atlantic Ocean via Gibraltar Strait. The most notable thing is that the aircraft completely ignored France and Spain airspace. Changing this route was not just a technical reason, but there were deep political and legal reasons behind it.
ICC Warrant and International Legal Pressure
In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes during Israeli military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu dismissed it as a liar and absurd, but under international law, ICC member countries would have to arrest them if they get a chance. That is why Netanyahu avoided flying over the countries where there could be legal risk in the event of landing. The thing to note is that neither America nor Israel are members of ICC, so Netanyahu does not have to face any legal threat.
Europe’s diplomatic strictness
although France allowed Netanyahu to pass through his airspace, he thought it appropriate to postpone it himself. The reason for this was the increasing European political pressure. Slovenia has recently imposed ban on Netanyahu, citing the proceedings of the ICC. In July 2025, Slovenia also imposed restrictions on Israeli ministers Bezelle Smotrich and Itmar Ben Gwir for inciting violence against Palestinians. Many European countries have recently announced the recognition of the Palestinian state in the United Nations, which Netanyahu is strongly opposing. According to Steve Gunyard, former US State Department official, & ldquo; For some governments, allowing Netanyahu to fly over his country can become a political responsibility. & RDquo;
Growing diplomatic threats for Netanyahu
This flight route clearly indicates that Netanyahu’s international trips are no longer diplomatic, but they are also surrounded by legal risks. The pressure and ICC warrant of European countries is limiting them. They are safe in allies like America, but their scope in Europe is constantly confined. At the international level it is affecting both Israel’s image and Netanyahu’s personal political situation.
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