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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the primary phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is close to finalization, and added that the subsequent stage must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would examine the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we attain the equivalent results in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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