France, Greece, Italy grant Netanyahu's plane airspace access

• Netanyahu's aircraft, dubbed "Wing of Zion," was cleared to fly through airspace of three ICC member states en route to New York.
• France authorized the overflight this morning, joining Greece and Italy in granting passage.
• Netanyahu was indicted by the International Criminal Court in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• All three countries are ICC members, raising questions about the arrangement given the outstanding warrant.

Greece, Italy and France have authorized the aircraft carrying ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cross their airspace as he travels to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, according to information confirmed this morning.

Netanyahu’s aircraft, known as the “Wing of Zion,” has received clearance to fly through the airspace of all three countries, which are members of the International Criminal Court, as part of its route to New York.

The overflight permissions come despite an outstanding ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu. The court issued the warrant in November 2024, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza war.

As states parties to the Rome Statute, Greece, Italy and France are generally required to cooperate with the ICC, including by enforcing arrest warrants in circumstances covered by the court’s rules. However, allowing Netanyahu’s aircraft to cross their airspace does not itself indicate that any of the three countries intends to detain him during transit.

The decision by Greece, Italy and France to authorize the flight comes as Netanyahu heads to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to participate in the annual high-level meetings.