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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the opening phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce plan is approaching finalization, and added that the second phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would address the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli captives 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. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed 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 said.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described 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 refuted any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges 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 discuss this at the moment.”