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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the initial phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is close to conclusion, adding that the next phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would discuss the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the same objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”