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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the primary stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire framework is nearing conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would address the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must begin now and then phase three must also be considered.”

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

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is not clear 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 adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim 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 Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal 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 diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”