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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire framework is approaching finalization, and added that the second stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would examine the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we secure the identical results in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued warrants for arrest 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 indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order of these measures is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.

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