Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane from Hungary to the US traveled 400 kilometers more than usual to avoid the airspace of several countries that could execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant last November on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. According to the Haaretz report, Israel believed that Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands could take action to execute the warrants. Netanyahu arrived in Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, which is expected to discuss Washington’s unexpected tariffs on Israel and escalating tensions with Iran. Netanyahu flew from Hungary, where he met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Several human rights groups have called on Hungary to uphold its obligations to the ICC under the Rome Statute, which prohibits it from inviting or receiving anyone for whom the ICC has issued an arrest warrant. However, Orban’s government has announced its withdrawal from the Rome Statute and made it clear before Netanyahu’s visit that his government would not execute the ICC warrant, although the decision to withdraw from the ICC will not take effect until a year later.

Netanyahu faces new criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face criticism, whether from ousted Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar or from the families of hostages in Gaza. However, this time Netanyahu has faced a new criticism, this time from retired Israeli General Yisrael Zeev. In an article posted on the website of Israeli TV Channel 12 yesterday, the general said that the Gaza war was necessary in its beginning, but then it was turned into a useless political war. It was a just war that turned into a war of deceit. The Israeli general also criticized the Israeli attacks on Syria. He warned that these attacks could give rise to armed groups led by the Lebanese organization Hezbollah. According to General Zeev, there is little chance of returning the Israeli prisoners and soldiers held hostage in Gaza to their homes through a military operation alone. The war must be stopped for the return of the prisoners, otherwise efforts to reach an agreement for their release will fail. According to the Israeli general, the continuation of the war is beneficial to Netanyahu because it will help postpone the questioning of Netanyahu in the Supreme Court. In the meantime, he is getting the opportunity to dismiss those responsible.

The former head of Israel’s internal security agency (Shabak) has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court. Ronen Bar said Netanyahu fired him because he refused to write a report to the judicial commission investigating Netanyahu for corruption, saying that the security situation did not allow for legal action against the prime minister.