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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is approaching finalization, noting that the subsequent stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would discuss the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the first phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 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 ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, 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 administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous 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 moment.”