NETANYAHU FLIES IN FEAR: ISRAELI STATE PLANE DODGES AIRSPACE AMID ICC ARREST WARRANT DRAMA

— Only Italy and Greece Allow Passage as Israeli PM Heads to UN, Avoids Most Nations Over Legal Risks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s journey to New York for the United Nations General Assembly has ignited fresh controversy after his official state plane, the Wing of Zion, deliberately bypassed almost every nation’s airspace between Israel and the United States.

According to The Times of Israel on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, departed Ben Gurion Airport under unusually tight flight restrictions. Flight-tracking data revealed the jet’s roundabout detour—skirting numerous ICC member states that could potentially enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued against the Israeli leader earlier this year.

Only Italy and Greece permitted overflight rights, while the aircraft carefully avoided other European nations, adding extra hours to the trip. Analysts say the longer route underscores the growing diplomatic isolation facing Netanyahu.

The ICC accuses him of committing war crimes in Gaza, allegations Israel has fiercely rejected. Nevertheless, many ICC member states have pledged compliance with the warrant. Spain publicly vowed to support the court, while France—despite facing backlash from Brussels—declared last year that it would not move to arrest the Israeli premier.

This is not Netanyahu’s first rerouted flight. In February, his Washington trip was also extended to avoid “problematic skies.” In May, a planned visit to Azerbaijan was quietly scrapped amid fears of crossing Turkish airspace, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—an outspoken Hamas ally—has openly supported the ICC’s move.

Despite the looming legal cloud, Netanyahu appeared unfazed. Posing for official photos with Sara before boarding, he looked composed, waving to cameras outside the Wing of Zion.

At the UN stage, Netanyahu is expected to deliver a fiery rebuttal against the ICC, defending Israel’s military actions in Gaza and attempting to rally allies in the face of growing international scrutiny.