First Stage of Gaza Truce Framework Nearly Complete, Says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the first part of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching finalization, stating that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would examine the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) 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 order of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

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

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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