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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the first stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is nearing conclusion, adding that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would discuss the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Political 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, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed 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 way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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 concluded 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 present time.”