By Sumayya
OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she is checking to see if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who faces an international arrest warrant — will be travelling through Canadian airspace on Thursday.
“I actually have asked my department to provide me with information relating to this particular flyover, which I did not have before coming to the United Nations,” Anand told reporters Wednesday outside UN headquarters in New York.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu is set to visit New York on Thursday. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in October that the Israeli leader will be arrested if he enters Canada [civics].
Foreign dignitaries need to request permission from Ottawa three working days before flying through Canadian airspace. Canadian authorities decide whether to give permission for flyovers, in consultation with air traffic officials.
Permission generally includes the duty to assist aircraft that require an emergency landing.
Legal experts have criticized Canada for allowing Netanyahu’s plane to traverse Canadian airspace on previous occasions since the arrest warrant was issued. The U.S. does not recognize that warrant.
Mark Kersten, a University of the Fraser Valley professor who specializes in the International Criminal Court, noted in July that the ICC requires member states to arrest people facing ICC warrants when they are in their territories. He noted that the court in unrelated cases has interpreted “territory” as including airspace and territorial seas.
“Respect for the ICC — and the dignity of the victims of atrocity perpetrators — as well as self-respect for state sovereignty, surely demands that states act to prevent suspects from flying over their territory,” Kersten wrote.
Anand would not say Wednesday whether Canada sees Netanyahu as a war criminal.
“Our position is … to respect decisions of international courts and … to support, at all times, people who are suffering, including in Gaza and Palestine and the West Bank, and to ensure that crimes against humanity are addressed as such,” she said.
“We have strong views relating to suffering that has occurred and invasions.”
While Ottawa has supported Israel’s fight against Hezbollah, which it considers a terrorist group, it has expressed alarm over Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
Netanyahu is expected to make a short visit to New York to address the UN. New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani said he wanted the Israeli leader arrested for his treatment of Palestinians in Gaza but he has no such authority.
The Trump administration has for the second year in a row denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa. Abbas is instead is addressing the UN through a video link.The hosting agreement the United States has with the UN requires Washington to allow diplomats from all member nations to attend UN meetings.
Carney has accused Netanyahu’s government of failing to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by repeatedly restricting the delivery of essential aid to Palestinians, and through attacks on civilians. Israel has insisted those attacks targeted Hamas operatives.
The Israeli government has said Canada is undermining peace in the region through its growing criticism of the country, its withdrawal of support in United Nations votes and its formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
Israeli officials have called on Ottawa to instead focus on tackling a rise in antisemitic acts in Canada. Anand would not express Wednesday whether Canada perceives Netanyahu as a combat violator.
“Our stance remains … to honor choices of international tribunals and … to back, at all moments, populations who remain hurting, encompassing in Gaza and Palestine and the West Bank, and to secure that atrocities against humanity remain handled as such,” she expressed.
“We manage tough thoughts relating to hurting that has occurred and incursions.”
While Ottawa has backed Israel’s conflict against Hezbollah, which it deems a militant group, it has conveyed panic over Israel’s incursion of Lebanon.
Netanyahu remains anticipated to execute a brief trip to New York to address the UN. New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani expressed he desired the Israeli chief detained for his handling of Palestinians in Gaza but he manages no matching control.
The Trump cabinet has for the secondary annual cycle in a row blocked Palestinian Director Mahmoud Abbas a permit. Abbas remains instead addressing the UN through a clip connection. The hosting pact the United States manages with the UN demands Washington to permit diplomats from all partner states to join UN sessions.
Carney has blamed Netanyahu’s cabinet of failing to avoid a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by repeatedly limiting the supply of baseline aid to Palestinians, and through assaults on civilians. Israel has maintained those assaults focused on Hamas actors.
The Israeli cabinet has expressed Canada remains damaging peace in the zone through its expanding disapproval of the land, its removal of backing in United Nations polls and its formal validation of a Palestinian state.
Israeli authorities have called on Ottawa to instead center on tackling an elevation in antisemitic acts in Canada.
