🔗 Share this article

Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the first phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire framework is approaching conclusion, stating that the subsequent stage must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would examine the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court released 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living 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 who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up 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 emphasized that Israel was firmly 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.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Proceedings

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”