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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the opening segment of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal is nearing completion, stating that the subsequent phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would examine the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we secure the equivalent objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 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 clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange 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. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused 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 agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal 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 accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had committed genocide.

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