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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the opening stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is nearing conclusion, adding that the second phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would address the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must come now and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 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 indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

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

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

Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances

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, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described 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 pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the present time.”