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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the opening phase of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire framework is nearing finalization, adding that the subsequent phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would talk about the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 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 welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects 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 topic of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective 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 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.

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