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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the initial segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce framework is approaching completion, and added that the second phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would discuss the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the identical outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must begin now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 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 allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving 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 killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was announced 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 killed in Hamas attacks over the same period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”