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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the first segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is nearing completion, noting that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would discuss the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor 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 stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 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 indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living 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 killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “negotiation”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective 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 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 diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

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

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

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