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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the initial stage of the internationally-supported Gaza truce framework is close to completion, adding that the second phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would discuss the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we secure the same results in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

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

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