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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is close to completion, and added that the second phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

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

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading 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 war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 living 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 who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce 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 killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment 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.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able 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 way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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