First Stage of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Almost Finished, Says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the opening part of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is close to completion, stating that the next stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would talk about the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial leader of a leading 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect 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 fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations 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 said Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

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