Netanyahu’s plane crossed airspace of three European states

Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane crossed Greek, Italian and French airspace on September 24 while carrying the Israeli prime minister to New York, according to flight-tracking data, despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. France said the overflight complied with international law and that the Rome Statute does not require states to act when a state aircraft carrying a wanted person passes through their airspace. The flight was bound for the United Nations General Assembly. The reported route took the aircraft from Israel across Greece, Italy and France. The tracking data establish the crossings but do not explain why the route was chosen or show that any country considered intercepting the plane. France’s Foreign Ministry said the Rome Statute imposes no obligation concerning an overflight by a state aircraft carrying a person subject to an ICC arrest warrant. The ministry described the clearance as consistent with international law. The statement was France’s account of its legal obligations; the material provided does not establish a separate legal ruling on the issue.