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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary part of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is close to conclusion, stating that the subsequent phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would discuss the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the equivalent outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase 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 released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 military actions over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

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

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

Potential Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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