Netanyahu Addresses UN Despite ICC Arrest Warrant; Europe Allows Overflight

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2026 while subject to an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant. His aircraft crossed the airspace of France, Italy, and Greece en route to New York without being intercepted, prompting international criticism.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and denies the allegations, characterizing its military campaign as a response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

France defended its decision not to arrest Netanyahu, with foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux stating that "the Rome Statute does not impose any obligations regarding overflights of its territory by a state plane which has a passenger who is targeted by an arrest warrant." France, Italy, and Greece are all signatories to the Rome Statute, which establishes the ICC. An Italian foreign ministry spokesperson said they could not immediately confirm whether Israel had sought permission for the overflight.

Former Irish MEP Mick Wallace criticized the three countries on social media, arguing that allowing Netanyahu's plane to cross their airspace amounts to enabling war crimes and constitutes a breach of ICC obligations. This reflects broader tension over enforcement of ICC warrants against sitting leaders of states not party to the court's jurisdiction.

The United States, a non-signatory to the Rome Statute and close Israeli ally, has launched a campaign to isolate the ICC. President Donald Trump this week called the court an "out of control institution" and urged member states to withdraw. France has condemned threats against the court. Netanyahu previously took a circuitous route to New York in earlier visits to avoid European airspace.