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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the initial stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal is nearing conclusion, stating that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would address the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must come now and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state 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 ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 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 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced 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 timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Possible Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Proceedings

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

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

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

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”