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Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the first stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing completion, adding that the second phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would examine the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

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

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must begin now and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to hold talks with 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 indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli captives 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the present time.”