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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the primary phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing finalization, adding that the subsequent phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister said he would examine the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to finish the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we attain the identical outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must begin now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable transitioning 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 authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able make a return 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 accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”