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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the opening phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is approaching conclusion, adding that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would examine the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the same outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must come now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to meet 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 war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli captives 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments 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 pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu claimed the 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 chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

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