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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the first part of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching finalization, stating that the next stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would examine the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must begin now and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued warrants for arrest 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

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

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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