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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the first phase of the internationally-supported Gaza truce proposal is nearing conclusion, and added that the next stage must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would discuss the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the equivalent outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court released 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 stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 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 killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of 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 proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting 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 “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Possible Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a return 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 shifting focus 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 investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has committed 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 little cause to consider this at the present time.”