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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the opening phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching completion, adding that the subsequent phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would examine the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released 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 allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in 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 planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in return 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared 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 killed in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” 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 ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling 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 governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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