Story perspectives

France Clears Netanyahu Plane Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 10:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

France allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane to cross its airspace despite an ICC arrest warrant.
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said the clearance fully complied with international law.
UN special rapporteur Ben Saul contested France’s view, citing the 1963 Tokyo Convention and sovereign airspace rights.
Legal experts said the Rome Statute requires cooperation for arrests on territory but is silent on overflight.

History

Historical Context

The Tokyo Convention, concluded on 14 September 1963 and signed by 12 states including the United States and United Kingdom, gave over-flown states jurisdiction over offences aboard aircraft. After entering into force on 4 December 1969 and now covering 187 parties, its rules underlie France’s 2024 decision to let Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s jet overfly French airspace, a move critics say clashes with the 1998 Rome Statute’s ICC obligations.

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Story summary

France allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane to cross its airspace despite an ICC arrest warrant.
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said the clearance fully complied with international law.
UN special rapporteur Ben Saul contested France’s view, citing the 1963 Tokyo Convention and sovereign airspace rights.
Legal experts said the Rome Statute requires cooperation for arrests on territory but is silent on overflight.

1 / 2