Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a flight to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday transiting through the airspace of Greece, Italy, and France, which are signatories of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This flight occurred despite an outstanding arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC. Even though these nations are obligated to ICC decisions, they did not close their airspace to Netanyahu's private aircraft, raising questions about the implications of such diplomatic interactions under judicial scrutiny.

The flight path followed previously established routes taken by Netanyahu, indicative of a deliberate choice to manage his travels amid legal threats. During past foreign visits, Netanyahu had avoided certain countries for fear of arrest; however, this time marked a notable precedent in which he utilized the airspaces of three nations with obligations to international law. This situation was particularly highlighted by Netanyahu's use of Greek and Italian airspace during a trip to the UN General Assembly in September last year, while carefully navigating French airspace.

The ongoing diplomatic activities of Netanyahu, especially following the inauguration of President Trump in January 2025, signify deepening ties with the U.S. which remain a vital aspect of his administration. The use of airspace by a leader under an international arrest warrant raises significant issues about international accountability and the responses by nations toward issues of justice and diplomacy. This development may well influence future diplomatic engagements and complicate relationships between Israel and European nations that are part of the ICC.