Here’s a jaw-dropping revelation: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again traversed Canadian airspace en route to Washington, despite Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney previously vowing to honor an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu. But here’s where it gets controversial—this isn’t the first time Netanyahu’s plane has flown through Canadian territory in recent months, raising questions about Canada’s commitment to international justice. Let’s break it down.
Netanyahu, who faces ICC charges for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, has seemingly become less cautious about his travel routes. When asked last October whether Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered Canada, Carney gave a firm ‘yes.’ Yet, on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s official aircraft, the Wing of Zion, crossed hundreds of kilometers of Canadian airspace, spanning Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, before entering the U.S. via Maine. This marks the second such flight in two months; the first occurred on December 29, when the plane flew over Newfoundland and Nova Scotia en route to Florida for a meeting with then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
And this is the part most people miss—Canadian protocol explicitly requires foreign government flights to seek permission at least 72 hours before entering its airspace. When CBC News inquired about the December flight, Global Affairs Canada declined to comment on the route, citing security reasons. As of this publication, it remains unclear whether Israel sought or received approval for the latest flight.
Netanyahu’s travel patterns have shifted notably since Trump’s second inauguration. Initially, in September 2025, his flight to the U.S. took a lengthy detour over the Mediterranean, avoiding much of Europe. However, he has since adopted more direct routes, crossing several European countries—including France, Italy, and Greece—despite many being signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. Notably, Spain and Slovenia, both vocal critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, have either enforced or supported ICC warrants, with Slovenia explicitly banning Netanyahu from its territory.
Here’s the kicker: While France confirmed granting permission for Netanyahu’s flights, other nations remain silent. This raises critical questions about the balance between diplomatic relations and upholding international law. Is Canada turning a blind eye to its own commitments? And what does this mean for the credibility of the ICC?
As Netanyahu continues to travel freely, the global community is left to grapple with these contradictions. What do you think? Is Canada’s inaction a pragmatic diplomatic move or a betrayal of justice? Let’s spark a conversation in the comments—your perspective matters.
