Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled through Canadian airspace on his way to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, as indicated by online flight trackers. This journey occurred despite Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s previous statement that an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Netanyahu’s alleged war crimes in Gaza would be honored. Netanyahu’s official aircraft has now made this passage through Canadian territory twice in the past two months.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s flight path took him through Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick before entering U.S. airspace in Maine. The flight crossed over nine European countries, including Turkey, on a Great Circle route from Tel Aviv to Maryland, showing no apparent concern for the risk of arrest.
Canadian protocol mandates that foreign government flights seeking to enter Canadian airspace must request permission at least three working days in advance. Global Affairs Canada declined to confirm if Israel had sought permission for the recent flight. Despite Canada’s commitment to upholding international law and ICC decisions, the government refrained from commenting further on the matter for security reasons.
Netanyahu’s recent trips to the U.S. reflect a shift in flying patterns, hinting at a reduced fear of potential arrest. While past flights took detours to avoid certain countries’ airspace, recent routes have been more direct, even crossing through European countries supportive of the ICC. France has publicly acknowledged permitting Netanyahu’s flights, contrasting with other nations enforcing ICC warrants.
Overall, Netanyahu’s recent flight paths suggest a strategic choice of routes, with a focus on efficiency rather than avoiding countries critical of his actions in Gaza.