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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the initial part of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is close to conclusion, and added that the second stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would address the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must come now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered warrants for arrest 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

During the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living 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 killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced 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 military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting 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 control of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps 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 crucial to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized 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 aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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