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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the initial stage of the internationally-supported Gaza truce plan is nearing completion, noting that the subsequent stage must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would address the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we secure the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three 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 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

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

“I think it’s crucial 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 demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” 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 topic of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able to 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 diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

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