Benjamin Netanyahu invited President Santiago Peña to join the Isaac Accords and support a U.S. initiative calling on countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The invitation was made at a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, also attended by José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama, and Rodrigo Paz, president of Bolivia. There was no announcement that Paraguay had accepted the proposal or begun procedures to leave the court.
The Israeli prime minister’s office presented the Isaac Accords as a framework for expanding Israel’s cooperation with Latin American countries in areas such as the economy, innovation and security. Netanyahu thanked the three presidents for their support for Israel and urged them to join the initiative and the proposal to withdraw from the ICC. He also said he considers countries across the continent important partners against groups that, he said, are led by Iran and operate in the region.
The Isaac Accords initiative or alliance was established between Israel and Argentina in April 2026. Israel presents it as an extension of the Abraham Accords, promoted in 2020 with U.S. support. The Israeli statement placed the meeting after Netanyahu’s meeting with Milei; available sources do not detail a specific reason for the three presidents’ participation.
The appeal to leave the ICC comes as Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant face arrest warrants issued by the court. According to the supplied reports, the warrants concern alleged crimes related to Gaza. The Israeli government rejects the accusations and challenges the court’s jurisdiction.
At the General Assembly, Netanyahu defended his government’s positions on Gaza and Iran amid international controversy over Israeli military operations and their humanitarian consequences. The prime minister’s office said requests for meetings from other leaders could not be accommodated because of scheduling constraints and the need to return to Israel before Sukkot, a Jewish holiday.
Paraguay is a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. To withdraw, it would have to notify the United Nations secretary-general in writing; withdrawal would take effect only 12 months after the notification was received. During that period, the country would remain subject to the treaty’s obligations. Article 127 also states that withdrawal does not end cooperation in investigations and proceedings already under way or remove the court’s jurisdiction over events that occurred while the state was a party.
In another engagement in New York, Peña met with General Francis L. Donovan, commander of the United States Southern Command. Paraguay’s presidency said they discussed defense and security cooperation, the fight against drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations, and the Americas Coalition Against Cartels.