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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the primary phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is close to finalization, adding that the second stage must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would talk about the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same results in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed 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 stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned 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 subject of “negotiation”, and emphasized 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 vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

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