Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane took an unusual route to New York on Thursday, bypassing several European countries as he traveled to the United Nations General Assembly.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft crossing Greece and Italy, then veering south through the Strait of Gibraltar before heading across the Atlantic, despite France granting Israel access to its airspace, a French diplomatic source told AFP.
The detour followed a wave of European countries — including Britain, France and Portugal — formally recognizing a Palestinian state this week, a move Netanyahu strongly opposes. Ireland and Spain had already announced recognition in May.
Israeli media reported the flight path was chosen to avoid nations that are signatories to the Rome Statute, amid concerns they could enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in November against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Spain last week pledged to back the ICC investigation and launched its own probe into alleged human rights violations.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday and meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
