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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal is close to finalization, and added that the next stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the first leader of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 noted on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange 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 At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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