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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the opening part of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire framework is close to finalization, and added that the second stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would address the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the equivalent objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives 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. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect 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 period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order 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 crucial to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Options and Political Positions

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

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the 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 means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission 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.”