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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the first segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is close to completion, stating that the second phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would examine the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we secure the equivalent outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must begin now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity 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 visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

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

“I think it’s important to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

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

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