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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the opening segment of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal is nearing conclusion, and added that the second stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would talk about the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader 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 former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”