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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the opening part of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing conclusion, adding that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would discuss the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

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

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The order of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Possible Options and Diplomatic Positions

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

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”