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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary stage of the internationally-supported Gaza truce proposal is nearing completion, and added that the subsequent stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister said he would discuss the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three 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 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

During the first phase of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees 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 Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

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

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

Possible Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation 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 Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu stated 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

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

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