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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the initial phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing conclusion, stating that the second phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed 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 agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated 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 wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent 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 present time.”