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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the opening stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce framework is nearing completion, and added that the next stage must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would discuss the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect 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 military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these measures is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”