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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce proposal is approaching conclusion, adding that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would address the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same results in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must begin now and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to hold talks with 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 alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in control 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order of these actions is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective 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 Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to 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 pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

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

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”