France Defends Allowing Netanyahu's Plane Overflight Amid ICC Warrant

France has defended its decision to permit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plane to cross its airspace on Thursday en route to the United Nations, asserting that international law does not mandate any specific action despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). France, a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, is formally obligated to cooperate with the court, including arresting suspects entering its territory.

Pascal Confrere, spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, stated to reporters that the overflight authorization was "perfectly in line with international law." He elaborated that the Rome Statute "does not impose any obligations (on states) regarding the flight of a state's aircraft over its territory, if a passenger for whom an arrest warrant has been issued is on board."

Netanyahu faces travel restrictions to numerous countries due to arrest warrants issued by the ICC against him, former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, and former Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in 2024. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction, denies committing war crimes in Gaza, and objects to the arrest warrants.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed Netanyahu's aircraft flew over Greece, Italy, and France. An Italian Foreign Ministry spokesperson indicated that it was not immediately possible to confirm whether Italian authorities had received a request for permission to fly through Italian airspace.