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Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the primary segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce framework is close to conclusion, stating that the second phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would discuss the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the first leader of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered 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 in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following 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 Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a timetable extending 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 control of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these measures is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss 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 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 Cases

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

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

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.

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