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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce plan is close to conclusion, stating that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we secure the identical objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial leader of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

Under the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither 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 supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial 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 asserted.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Judicial 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 invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

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

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the current juncture.”