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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is close to finalization, noting that the next stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would examine the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the same results in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 currently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule transitioning 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 established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”