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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening phase of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching conclusion, and added that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would discuss the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the same objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading 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 in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli captives 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. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

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

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

Potential Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and stressed 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.

ICC Charges and Judicial 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 refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded 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.”