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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is approaching finalization, stating that the next stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would discuss the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the equivalent objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to confer 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 alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died 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 declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed 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 headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance 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 vital to ensure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured 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 down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”