Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent flight to meet U.S. President Donald Trump involved traversing Canadian airspace, as indicated by online flight trackers. This journey occurred despite Prime Minister Mark Carney’s prior statement that he would uphold an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
This is not the first time Netanyahu’s official Israeli government aircraft has flown over Canadian territory. In a similar instance two months ago, on December 29, Netanyahu’s plane, named the Wing of Zion, passed over Newfoundland and Nova Scotia en route to Florida for a meeting with Trump at Mar-A-Lago.
The latest flight path on Tuesday took Netanyahu’s aircraft across three Canadian provinces—Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick—before entering U.S. airspace in Maine. According to Canadian protocol, foreign government flights must seek permission well in advance of entering Canadian airspace. Global Affairs Canada declined to confirm whether Israel sought permission for this recent flight.
Netanyahu’s flying patterns suggest a diminishing concern about the risk of arrest. Despite facing potential warrants in certain countries, he continues to fly over European nations like France, Italy, and Greece, which are signatories to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC. Notably, Spain and Slovenia have taken strict stances against Netanyahu, with Slovenia even banning his entry following his flight through Europe.
Tuesday’s flight followed a direct Great Circle route from Tel Aviv to Maryland, showcasing a seemingly unconcerned approach towards potential legal repercussions. The aircraft’s path, crossing nine European countries including Turkey, underscored Netanyahu’s consistent disregard for arrest risks during his frequent travels to the U.S.
Overall, Netanyahu’s recent flights highlight his bold disregard for potential legal consequences as he continues to navigate international airspace en route to diplomatic engagements.