Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane took an unusual route to New York on Thursday, skirting several European countries en route to the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu left Israel with his wife on Wednesday evening for the UNGA and is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House.
His flight, which would normally cross several European countries, instead travelled the length of the Mediterranean Sea and over the Strait of Gibraltar, according to flight tracking platforms.
The jet briefly passed over Greece and Italy, FlightRadar24 reported, but deliberately avoided French and Spanish airspace, extending the travel time.
Although France had authorised Israeli use of its skies, a French diplomatic source confirmed to AFP, flight data showed Netanyahu’s aircraft opted for a southern detour.
After entering Greece and Italy, the flight veered south through the Strait of Gibraltar before heading across the Atlantic.
Britain, France, and Portugal were among countries that recognised a Palestinian state this week, a move Netanyahu fiercely opposes.
Ireland and Spain had announced similar recognition in May.
Israeli outlets reported that the detour was meant to bypass countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, which could enforce an International Criminal Court warrant in the event of an emergency landing.
In November, the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Spain recently declared support for the ICC investigation and set up a team to probe human rights violations in Gaza as part of its push to pressure Israel.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday before meeting Trump in Washington.
“I am now leaving with my wife for the UN General Assembly and Washington. At the UN General Assembly, I will speak our truth — the truth of the citizens of Israel, the truth of the IDF soldiers, and the truth of our country,” Netanyahu said before departure.
“I will denounce those leaders who, instead of denouncing the murderers, rapists, and child burners, want to give them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel. This will not happen,” he continued.
“In Washington,” he added, “I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump and discuss with him the great opportunities that our victories have brought and also our need to complete the goals of the war: to return all our hostages, to defeat Hamas, and to expand the circle of peace that is open to us following the historic victory in ‘Am Kalavi’ and other victories that we have achieved.”
