Online flight tracking data reveals that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled hundreds of kilometers through Canadian airspace en route to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s previous indication that he would respect an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
This marked the second occasion in two months that Netanyahu’s official Israeli government aircraft, the Boeing 767 known as the Wing of Zion, crossed Canadian sovereign territory. On this recent journey, the flight path took Netanyahu over Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick before entering U.S. airspace in Maine.
Under Canadian protocol, foreign government flights are required to seek permission well in advance before entering Canadian airspace. Despite inquiries regarding whether Israel sought permission for the flight, there was no response from Global Affairs Canada.
Netanyahu’s recent flying patterns suggest a diminishing concern about the risk of arrest, as evidenced by his increased direct routes across European countries. Notably, he avoided certain countries’ airspace, such as Spain and Slovenia, due to their support for ICC warrants. Despite this, Netanyahu’s flights have traversed countries that are signatories to the ICC, including France, Italy, and Greece, with only France publicly acknowledging permission for the flights.
The flight route taken by Netanyahu on this trip followed a Great Circle route, the shortest possible distance from Tel Aviv to Washington. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft crossing multiple European countries, including Turkey, on its journey.
This latest flight through Canadian airspace raises questions about international law compliance and diplomatic implications, especially in light of the ongoing ICC warrant against Netanyahu.