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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the first segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is approaching conclusion, stating that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would talk about the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we secure the equivalent results in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must begin now and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued arrest warrants 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 stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized 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 vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able 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 way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined 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 current juncture.”