First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Complete, Says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan is nearing conclusion, noting that the next phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would talk about the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

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

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 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 remains of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments 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 pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal 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 stated the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the moment.”