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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the opening segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan is close to finalization, and added that the second phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must come now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to meet 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 war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared 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 period.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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