On September 24, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to the United States to address the UN General Assembly. Flight tracking data indicated that his aircraft passed through the airspace of Canada, France, Italy, and Greece. This transit occurred despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024, which accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza.

While the ICC warrant requires member states to cooperate with the court, the legal obligations regarding transit through sovereign airspace remain a subject of debate. Middle East Eye reports that the flight has prompted scrutiny regarding whether these nations are in breach of international law by allowing the passage of an individual subject to an ICC warrant. There is currently no consensus among international legal experts on whether the duty to arrest an official extends to aircraft in transit, as diplomatic immunity and state sovereignty often complicate the enforcement of international warrants.

None of the four nations involved have issued official statements clarifying their specific legal rationale for permitting the overflight. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between the ICC’s mandate to prosecute alleged war criminals and the practical realities of international diplomacy and state-to-state travel.