France defended its decision to let Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane cross its airspace en route to the United Nations on Thursday, saying international law did not require action despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes.

French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told reporters: “The Rome Statute does not impose any obligations regarding overflights of its territory by a state plane which has a passenger who is targeted by an arrest warrant.”

France is a signatory of the ICC’s founding Rome Statute and is formally bound to cooperate with the court, including arresting suspects who enter its territory. However, in 2024, shortly after the warrant was issued, the French government said Netanyahu would retain immunity on French soil despite the warrant, because Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute.

Netanyahu is unable to travel to many countries because of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes during the war sparked by the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel from the Gaza Strip and onslaught.

Israel rejects the charges........

© The Times of Israel