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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial part of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan is nearing completion, and added that the second stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must come now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

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

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving 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 Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim 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 said the reason he would not be able 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 diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down 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 starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the present time.”