Lynn Naji

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Carney must ban Netanyahu from Canadian airspace: CJPME

Montreal, February 11, 2026 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is outraged to learn that Canada has allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to travel through Canadian airspace on route to the United States, despite the outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against him for crimes against humanity. CJPME calls on Prime Minister Carney to respect the ICC warrants by definitively and immediately closing Canadian airspace to Netanyahu going forward. 

“Carney has promised to arrest Netanyahu if he lands in Canada, but apparently his principles don’t apply above ground level,” said Yara Shoufani, President of CJPME. “Canada is abandoning its legal obligations as a member of the ICC by giving safe passage to this war criminal and fugitive,” said Shoufani.

In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Gaza. The ICC alleged that they were co-perpetrators in multiple horrific acts which were “part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.” In October 2025, Carney affirmed that he would honour the arrest warrants against Netanyahu if he arrived in Canada.

CJPME first raised the alarm yesterday at 3PM ET that Netanyahu’s “Wing of Zion” was entering Canadian airspace. This was confirmed by CBC News, which also reported that Netanyahu had previously flown over Canada at the end of December. Flights by foreign state aircraft are required to secure permission from Canadian authorities in advance. Reports from early 2025 indicated that Netanyahu was avoiding Canadian airspace at the time. 

“This Liberal government is choosing to uphold impunity for a war criminal wanted by the ICC. Carney is abandoning the ICC despite a total lack of accountability, at the same time as Netanyahu continues to inflict Gaza with bloodshed, starvation, and genocide,” added Shoufani.



Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, www.cjpme.org. The whole or parts of this press release can be reproduced without permission.

CJPME acknowledges that our offices, located in Montreal, are on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk), whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.  CJPME recognizes the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka as the customary keepers and defenders of the St. Lawrence River Watershed and its tributaries. We honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.  Further, CJPME respects and affirms the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land. CJPME has and will continue to honour the commitments to self-determination and sovereignty we have made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.  CJPME also acknowledges the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believes that its work should contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together.

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) 580 Sainte-Croix Ave, Suite 060, Saint-Laurent, QC,  H4L 3X5. 
©2007-2023 CJPME

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