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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the initial phase of the internationally-supported Gaza truce framework is nearing finalization, adding that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would address the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the equivalent objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to confer 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 stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was announced 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 fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the 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 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 awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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