The plane carrying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Florida for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump passed through the airspace of three countries that are parties to the International Criminal Court, despite an active ICC arrest warrant against the Israeli leader.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed Netanyahu’s aircraft, known as “Wings of Zion,” crossed the airspace of Greece, Italy and France before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
All three countries are signatories to the Rome Statute, which obliges member states to cooperate with ICC arrest warrants.
I share that sentiment.
It just doesn’t mean international law means you can shoot whatever you want out of your airspace, nor if a state should want to set that precedent.
There are a lot of other things to consider, like which branch of international law is applicable here (not humanitarian law/law of armed conflict as there is no armed conflict between the concerned states and Israel).
Customary law is to be very careful shooting down planes that violates airspace (which I doubt is the case here, as I expect they were allowed to fly through their respective airspace).
Netanyahu is also not convicted yet. And not all states agree with the ICC’s interpretation of head of state immunity.
There is some reality that needs to be taken into account, both that states have questionable views on Netanyahu, as well as that certain actions leads to unwanted consequences and/or precedents.
I’d rather focus on the fact that all states have an (erga omnes) obligation to prevent and concern themselves with the ongoing genocide, acts against humanity, and war crimes.
Finally, let’s hope Netanyahu sets food in a state that will abide by the warrant and we see him in the Hague soon.