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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary part of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce plan is nearing conclusion, stating that the next phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would examine the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same results in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader 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 former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 killed in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions 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 agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects 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 “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim 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 Cases

Netanyahu claimed the primary 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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