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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is approaching completion, and added that the subsequent phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister said he would address the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must start immediately and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for 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 currently under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following 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 killed in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants 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 manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu said 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, is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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