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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is close to conclusion, and added that the subsequent stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would address the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the equivalent objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must begin now and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

During the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return 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. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal 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 said the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated 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 discuss this at the present time.”