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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the primary segment of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities plan is close to conclusion, adding that the next phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would examine the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released 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 in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established 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 sequencing of these measures is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks 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 obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

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

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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