Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an unusually long route to New York to sidestep possible arrest due to war crime allegations, reports suggest.
He arrived in the city for a speech at the UN on Friday, where he was set to address conflicts concerning the Gaza Strip.
Flight data indicates that his plane, named Zion, made significant detours to steer clear of both France and Spain. This avoidance was likely due to the fact that both nations are members of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for him back in November 2024.
Reports indicate that navigating these routes was a strategic decision aimed at preventing any emergency landings in countries enforcing such warrants. Yanir Kozin, a journalist with Israeli Army Radio, noted that there seemed to be minimal other indications of Netanyahu’s growing diplomatic isolation beyond this peculiar flight path.
During his visit, Netanyahu instructed the Israel Defense Forces to address remarks made at the UN General Assembly regarding Gaza, clarifying that the approach was intended to engage with the citizens rather than Hamas.
His speech highlighted that several Western nations, including Britain, France, and Canada, had recognized a Palestinian state earlier in the week, emphasizing Israel’s ongoing isolation amid its conflict with Hamas.
In a recent government meeting, Netanyahu remarked that he would “combat defamatory propaganda” directed at Israel.
