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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial part of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is nearing completion, and added that the subsequent stage must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would discuss the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the equivalent objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released warrants for arrest 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 indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared 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 attacks over the identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

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

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Possible Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining 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 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 Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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