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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the opening phase of the internationally-supported Gaza truce agreement is close to conclusion, stating that the second phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would examine the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the same objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media 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 taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks with 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 alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital 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 Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment 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.

ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the 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 means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

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

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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