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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the initial segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is close to completion, adding that the second stage must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would talk about the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we secure the same outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must start immediately and then the third phase 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 (ICC) released warrants for arrest 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

During the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” 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 “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured 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 wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the present time.”