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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is approaching conclusion, stating that the subsequent phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would talk about the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals 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 secure the equivalent outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must begin now and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 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. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority 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 actions is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects 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 subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”