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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the first phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is nearing completion, noting that the subsequent stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would talk about the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the same objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must come now and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force 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 daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is vague 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 ensure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” 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 “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

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

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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