TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state aircraft took an unusual route to New York this week, deliberately avoiding the airspaces of Spain and Portugal in what officials described as a precaution tied to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.
Netanyahu departed Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at 5:13 a.m. local time on September 25 aboard the Wing of Zion, Israel’s Boeing 767-300ER, bound for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The 25-year-old aircraft, registered as 4X-ISR, climbed to 36,000 feet and initially tracked toward continental Europe. But as it approached the Balearic Islands, flight data revealed an abrupt turn south, rerouting the aircraft around Spanish and Portuguese territory before crossing the Strait of Gibraltar and heading north over the Atlantic.
The detour, confirmed by tracking service FlightRadar24, added nearly 600 kilometers to the journey. The adjustment not only increased fuel requirements but also prompted Netanyahu’s office to trim the size of the traveling delegation to reduce weight. The plane touched down in New York at 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Political Calculations in the Air
The unusual flight path illustrates how legal and political pressures are reshaping diplomatic travel. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2024. The charges include allegations of using starvation as a weapon of war and other inhumane acts.
Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and has denounced the warrant as illegitimate. But with 125 states party to the Rome Statute, ICC members are obligated to detain individuals under active warrants should they set foot—or in some cases, be forced to land—on their soil. That reality has injected new complexity into Netanyahu’s international travel.
“Netanyahu’s team cites head of state protections, though ICC rules limit these for such crimes,” according to the official statement. Israeli officials argue that leaders enjoy diplomatic immunity, but ICC statutes specify that immunity does not shield heads of state from prosecution for war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Spain and Portugal Draw the Line
The decision to bypass Spain and Portugal reflects the political positions of both governments. Spain has pledged full cooperation with the ICC and established a team dedicated to investigating alleged human rights violations in Gaza. Portugal has signaled its readiness to meet “international obligations,” implying it would act on the warrant if necessary.
Other European nations have staked out varying positions. Italy and Greece permitted Netanyahu’s overflight this time, citing political immunity and neutrality, respectively. France allowed previous flyovers despite expressing concern, though such actions have sparked criticism within the European Union. Meanwhile, Hungary has outright refused to recognize the ICC’s warrant, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán welcoming Netanyahu for a visit in April 2025. Poland likewise offered safe passage earlier this year for a Holocaust commemoration.
Diplomatic Tensions in the Background
The rerouted journey also reflects a broader geopolitical context. Several European states—including Spain, Ireland, and Portugal—recently recognized Palestinian statehood, drawing sharp rebukes from Israel. Netanyahu’s upcoming address to the UN General Assembly on September 26 is expected to target those developments directly.
“The shameful capitulation of some leaders to Palestinian terror does not obligate Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement previewing the speech.
The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, continues to provide a political safe haven. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on ICC staff earlier this year, dismissing the court’s investigation as biased and illegitimate. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump during the New York visit, underscoring Washington’s support.
A Pattern of Precaution
This is not the first time Netanyahu’s travel has been altered by the ICC proceedings. A February 2025 trip to Washington followed a similarly elongated route to avoid certain European airspaces. In July, however, his aircraft flew directly over France, Italy, and Greece without incident, underscoring the patchwork nature of European enforcement.
The ongoing travel complications have already had diplomatic consequences. Earlier in 2025, Netanyahu canceled a planned visit to the Vatican, citing concerns that Italian authorities might face renewed pressure to enforce the warrant.
Legal Risks and Strategic Choices
While Israel insists the ICC has no authority over its leaders, officials are making pragmatic decisions to reduce exposure. Analysts note that while an in-flight arrest is unlikely, emergency landings in ICC member states could create significant risks.
The detour to New York underscores the fragile balance between legal accountability and state sovereignty. By carefully charting its path through friendlier skies, Israel is managing the fallout of the ICC warrant even as it maintains a defiant stance against the charges.
For Netanyahu, the avoidance of Spain and Portugal is more than a flight plan adjustment—it is a symbol of the shifting diplomatic terrain that now accompanies every overseas trip.
