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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the primary phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing conclusion, and added that the subsequent phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would address the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 killed in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important 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 demilitarise,” he stated.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

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