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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the primary stage of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching finalization, stating that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would talk about the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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 allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying 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 strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the present time.”