Netanyahu crosses Canadian airspace as ICC arrest warrant remains in effect
The Israeli PM flew through Canadian airspace Thursday en route to the UN General Assembly despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in November 2024.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu crossed Canadian airspace Thursday while en route to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, despite an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in November 2024 for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Flight tracker data shows Netanyahu flew over Greece, Italy, France and Canada. Canada authorized the overflight, though the government said the authorization should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any particular government's policies or actions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand's office said the overflight request was connected to the UN General Assembly, "which she called a critical forum for the diplomatic engagement."
The timing contradicts a statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said in October that Netanyahu "will be arrested if he enters Canada." The distinction between crossing airspace and physically entering Canadian territory remains unclear, and the government has not explained how the overflight was authorized given Carney's earlier declaration.
Does crossing airspace trigger the same obligations under the ICC arrest warrant as physically entering Canada?
Why was the overflight authorized after the Prime Minister's October statement that Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered the country?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
