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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the opening stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce plan is close to conclusion, adding that the subsequent phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint 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 initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not presently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant 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 technocratic Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure 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 Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly 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 Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu claimed 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 shifting focus 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 standing of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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