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Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the opening stage of the internationally-supported Gaza truce framework is nearing conclusion, noting that the subsequent stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

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

“We are close to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued warrants for arrest 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 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 at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

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, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the establishment 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 Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

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

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