First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Framework Almost Complete, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the primary phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is close to finalization, and added that the next stage must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister said he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must come now and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to hold talks 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 alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the first phase of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees 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 truce line, leaving them in occupation 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 fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a timetable 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 “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these measures is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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