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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial part of the internationally-supported Gaza truce plan is nearing conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we attain the identical objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first leader of a significant 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 allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations 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 remarked Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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